ISLAMABAD: Prices of essential kitchen items especially vegetables, eggs, sugar, chicken and others have continued witnessing an upward trend following an increase in petrol and diesel rates on June 26th by the federal government.
A survey carried out by Business Recorder here on Saturday revealed that tomatoes, onions, potatoes, eggs, chicken, ginger, garlic, and an entire range of fruits prices witnessed an increase during this past week compared to the preceding week.
Traders said over the past few weeks, prices of everything have gone up as a result of increased transportation charges.
They said today sugar is trading at Rs4,050 per 50kg bag and wheat flour at Rs1,050 per 20kg bag, while chicken at Rs7,200 per 40kg and eggs at Rs123 per dozen, besides increase in detergents, inferior and good quality of cooking oils prices have also witnessed an increasing trend.
Traders told Business Recorder that in June and with the start of July, the prices of first and second grade ghee/cooking oil have witnessed fourth increase, despite a reduction in the global market.
They said second-grade ghee/cooking oil price per carton has jumped from Rs2,350 per carton to Rs2,400 per carton during this week, while first-grade cooking oil/ghee prices have reached all-time high mark of Rs1,250 per 5 litre bottle.
During the week under review, chicken price jumped from 7,000 to Rs7,200 per 40kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs215 per kg against Rs210 per kg, while chicken meat price went up from Rs330 per kg to Rs340 per kg.
The survey observed a further increase in egg prices, which jumped from Rs120 per dozen to Rs123 per dozen in wholesale market, while in retail, eggs are being sold at Rs135 per dozen against Rs130 per dozen.
During the week under review, prices of majority of pulses remained stable as moong is being sold at Rs290 per kg, maash is being sold at Rs 250-260 per kg, best quality lobia at Rs300 per kg, masoor at Rs160 per kg, and chana at Rs135 per kg against Rs150 per kg.
No changes were witnessed in top brands of ghee/cooking oil, tea, spices, powder milk, salt, chillis, turmeric, and other items. Sugar price during the week under review went up from Rs3,920 per 50kg bag to Rs4,050 per 50kg bag, which is still being sold at Rs88 per kg against Rs85 per kg.
While the government announced wheat flour is available at Rs860 per 20kg bag against Rs805 per 20kg bag but people are not buying it due to its inferior quality, the good quality wheat flour price has reached all-time high level at Rs1,050 per 20kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs1,075 per 20kg bag, while per kg wheat flour is available at Rs70 per kg.
People talking to Business Recorder regarding availability of subsidised edible items at the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) outlets deplored that either most of the outlets had shortage of subsidised items or were selling at market prices.
People said that since February 2020 there was a sugar shortage at majority of the USC outlets, despite government providing multi-billion rupees subsidy on sugar.
During the week, vegetables prices further witnessed an increasing trend as best quality potatoes price jumped from Rs320 per 5kg to Rs350 per 5kg, while normal is available at Rs300 per 5kg against Rs280 per 5kg.
In retail market, best quality potatoes are being sold at Rs80 per kg against Rs75 per kg, while normal at Rs70 per kg against Rs65 per kg, onions price went up from Rs150 per 5kg to Rs220 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs55 per kg against Rs40 per kg. Tomato price went further up from Rs230 per 5kg to Rs400 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs100 per kg against Rs55 per kg.
Garlic price went further down from Rs850 per 5kg to Rs750 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs200 per kg against Rs230 per kg, and ginger price went up from Rs1,300 per 5kg to Rs1,700 per 5kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs400 per kg against Rs350 per kg. Overall fruit prices witnessed an increasing trend as best quality white apple price has jumped from Rs160 per kg to Rs200 per kg, while normal is available in the range of Rs140-160 per kg against Rs120-140 per kg, Gajja apple is being sold at Rs145 per kg against Rs120 per kg.
Good quality banana is being sold at Rs120 per dozen against Rs130 per dozen, while normal quality at Rs70-80 per dozen against Rs100-80 per dozen.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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