Fuel slips, household gas rises... and food keeps squeezing budgets
Gasoline and diesel prices fell in the latest pricing round while the household gas cylinder became more expensive, meaning the energy bill is moving in two directions and still weighing on family budgets. This comes amid reports of rising prices for basic food items, a category that hits daily spending directly. On the financial side, the deposits file remains open with depositors rejecting the $100,000 plan, and a tax dispute between the Finance Ministry and the Association of Banks that could reach $600 million. On services, Parliament is discussing a $100 million extra credit for Electricité du Liban, while Lebanese-Qatari talks on gas and electricity via Syria resume.
Fuel falls... household gas and food rise
According to the indicators, the price of a 20-litre tank of 95-octane gasoline fell to 2,492,000 lira from 2,569,000 lira, 98-octane to 2,510,000 lira from 2,587,000 lira, and diesel to 2,579,000 lira from 2,604,000 lira. By contrast, the 10-kg household gas cylinder rose to 1,610,000 lira from 1,545,000 lira. An MTV Lebanon report pointed to rising prices of basic and food items without detailed figures in the available text, meaning pressure on the daily food basket has not eased.
Deposits and the tax dispute: two open files
Depositors rejected the $100,000 plan, according to a Lebanon Debate report that spoke of moves in this regard and questions about state assets. In a parallel file, a dispute is underway between the Finance Ministry and the Association of Banks of Lebanon over tax claims that could reach $600 million; economist Munir Younes indicates the figure is a banking estimate and not a final invoice. On the investment side, the Al Habtoor Group announced the sale of all its hotels, real estate and land in Lebanon, saying it is claiming more than $1.7 billion before the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes. The euro stood at 99,786 lira against 99,911 lira previously, and gold was $4,111 an ounce against $4,124.
Public school strike continues and transport sector protests
The contract teachers' movement announced that more than fifty thousand secondary public school students have been out of classrooms for six days, calling for intervention with the education minister to reconsider her recent decisions. The educational guidance committee in the evening shift also announced a sit-in on Tuesday, 10 November, outside UNICEF offices in Beirut demanding the return of 400 educational counsellors to the evening shift. In the north, the land transport sector staged a sit-in in front of the Tripoli Serail demanding drivers' rights and protection of their livelihoods, warning of escalatory steps.
Electricity: an extra credit and talks with Doha
Parliament today discusses a draft to open an additional $100 million credit to pay part of the arrears owed to Electricité du Liban by public institutions and administrations. In the same context, Lebanese-Qatari talks on supplying Lebanon with gas and electricity via Syria resume Monday in Beirut, according to An-Nahar, while Free Patriotic Movement sources said the matter is a treaty between two states and cannot be signed overnight. In the field, Electricité du Liban moved a 20-megavolt-ampere transformer to the Boulos Arqash station with army support, to compensate for a transformer that broke down on 29 September 2026, causing a sharp drop in supply in Jezzine and Iqlim al-Kharroub.
Investment spending at 8%... and the south's agriculture loses
A Lebanon ON post indicated that investment spending reached 8%, with half of it allocated to maintenance. On agriculture, an MTV report said war damage affected about 22.5% of Lebanon's agricultural land, roughly 56,000 hectares, of which 52,000 hectares are concentrated in the South and Nabatieh governorates, with financial losses exceeding $530 million. The report quoted Agriculture Minister Nizar Hani speaking about a recovery and support plan for farmers.
What to watch
- The parliamentary Administration and Justice Committee session on Tuesday, 10 November, alongside a protest by owners of rented buildings in Riyad al-Solh Square against amending the rent law.
- A sit-in by the educational guidance committee of the evening shift on Tuesday outside UNICEF offices in Beirut demanding the return of 400 educational counsellors.
- The resumption of Lebanese-Qatari talks on gas and electricity via Syria in Beirut.
- The path of the $100 million extra credit for Electricité du Liban, and the evolution of the tax dispute between the Finance Ministry and the Association of Banks.