ALERT OBSERVERS WILL know it's the Year of the Rat now. My local takeaway told me about this special year on my last run down for Won Ton soup. As they packaged up a Chinese calendar to go along with the prawn crackers, I also learned there's a run on hamsters in China. Ever since the Year of the Rat dawned, the price of hamsters skyrocketed. Chinese media report "prices have tripled to about 30 yuan ($4.20) per hamster across the country." According to reports, "Hamsters have become the must-have pet in China since the Year of the Rat began on 7 February. Pet shop owners say stocks are running low - and prices high - as children clamour for a furry friend." We used to have a housebroken hamster but he ate himself to death by gorging on carpet near the front door.
Michael Bristow, BBC -- "Hamster prices triple in China", 12 February 2007.
