Recent political unrest in Bulgaria has led to a significant increase in food prices across the country. Key items such as milk, soft drinks, mineral water, pork steaks, chocolate, alcohol, and oil have seen price hikes of 20-30 cents or more in just one week. In some cases, prices have doubled. The surge in prices is also coupled with empty shelves in stores as traders withdraw their goods in anticipation of further price increases, exacerbated by a sharp rise in gas prices following recent elections.