13 June 2011 Last updated at 17:07

In pictures: Singapore's hawker centres

Food courts or 'hawker centres' are popular in Singapore and other parts of Asia.

There are 107 markets and hawker centres in Singapore managed by the National Environment Agency.

In an expensive city such as Singapore, they are places where people can still eat cheaply.

Many people eat one or more meals a day at these hawker centres and the best stalls always have a queue.

But food prices have been rising fast in many countries in the region.

The fear is that prices will become out of reach for many in Asia who spend most of their income on food.

In Singapore's recent election inflation was an issue and it has caused problems in places such as India and China as well.

Authorities across Asia have been trying to rein in prices, but with little success so far.

If inflation stays high analysts warn it could threaten livelihoods and Asia's growth. (Photos by Michael Eckels)

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