ISLAMABAD: Prices of essential kitchen items have witnessed further hike during this past week against the preceding week, according to a survey carried out by Business Recorder here on Saturday.
The survey noted a significant increase in egg prices, which jumped from Rs4,700 per carton to Rs5,000 per carton containing 12 trays, each tray contains 30 eggs, in wholesale market. In retail market, eggs are being sold at Rs180-200 per dozen.
Sugar price further jumped from Rs4,900 per 50kg bag to Rs4,950 per 50kg bag - setting a new all time high wholesale price record. Chicken price also witnessed a slight reduction from Rs7,000 per 40kg to Rs6,700 per 40kg. Ghee/cooking oil prices witnessed no change as good quality ghee/cooking oil is available at Rs260 per litre.
Rice prices went up as best quality basmati rice price jumped from Rs3,700 per 25kg bag to Rs3,900 per 25kg, normal quality basmati rice jumped from Rs3,300 per 25kg bag to Rs3,500 per 25kg, and other brands of rice prices also went up.
The survey observed that flour mill owners have linked supply of government sponsored wheat flour bag of 20kg costing Rs860 per 20kg bag to retailers with the purchase of 15kg bag, which costs Rs995 per 15kg.
Owing to the condition set by the flour millers, most of the retailers are unable to purchase government sponsored wheat flour as a result, it is not available on most of the shops.
The survey also observed even most of the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) outlets especially in rural areas of Rawalpindi/Islamabad are short of wheat flour.
Same is the situation with sugar availability on the USC outlets and the commodity is not available to the masses on subsidized rates as a result they are compelled to purchase expensive sugar from open market at Rs115-110 per kg.
Wheat flour price slightly increased from Rs990 per 15kg bag to Rs995 per bag, which in retail is still being sold at Rs70 per kg, sugar in retail is being sold in the range of Rs110 per kg to Rs115 per kg, chicken in retail is being sold at Rs185 per kg against Rs200 per kg, chicken meat is being sold at Rs300 per kg against Rs320 per kg.
Normal quality ghee/cooking oil price, which witnessed a jump in the past week are stable at Rs2,730 per carton, while in retail, it is being sold at Rs185 per pack of 900 grams.
Tomato price went significantly up during this week up from Rs1,425 per basket of 13kg to Rs2,300 per basket, which in retail are being sold at Rs180-200 per kg against Rs110-100 per kg during preceding week.
The Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) suppliers are also all set to further increase the commodity prices as today global LPG price has witnessed $60 per ton increase as a result the LPG supplier will increase LPG prices by Rs10 per kg, Rs120 per domestic cylinder, and Rs450 per commercial cylinder.
At present, domestic cylinder of 11.8 kg LPG is available at Rs1,570, which will be sold at Rs1,700 within next few days. However, during the week under review, pulses prices remained stable as moong is being sold at Rs240 per kg, lentil mash at Rs240 per kg, lentil gram at Rs140 per kg, best quality bean lentil from at Rs260 per kg, masoor lentil at Rs140 per kg, and whole gram lentil at Rs150 per kg.
No changes were witnessed in milk prices during the week under review as packed milk prices including Nestle milk pack and Olpers are being sold at Rs40 per 200 ml pack.
Spices prices are stable at Rs75 per 25gram pack, while red powder chillies price reduced from Rs1,000 per kg to Rs850 per kg, and turmeric powder price at Rs380 per kg.
The survey observed an increasing trend in the prices of vegetables as spinach price is stable at Rs25 per bundle, and peas price went up from Rs900 per 5kg to Rs1,300 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold at Rs300 per kg against Rs190 per kg.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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