Supplies of basic foods at Egyptian supermarkets have been squeezed and some stores are rationing products, with shopkeepers blaming an import slowdown and speculation by traders as prices rise. Headline inflation has surged to five-year highs of more than 18% in Egypt, spurring many shoppers to cut back on purchases or switch to cheaper goods. Core inflation, which excludes volatile items such as food, quickened to 21.5% in November. The government has reacted over the past week by saying it will draw up indicative prices for key commodities and threatening legal action against shopkeepers wh…