Egypt Reels From Second Price Hike in a Week as Power Subsidy Cut

Egypt on Thursday raised household electricity prices by as much as 42 percent, in a move likely to further anger a population already struggling with soaring costs.

The increases, which include ending subsidies entirely for the highest power consumers, were widely expected as officials push ahead with reforms they have described as painful but long overdue. Yet coming a week after the government sharply raised fuel prices, the half of Egypt’s 93 million people who live near or below the poverty line face greater hardship.