Significant increase has been witnessed in the prices of essential food items particularly in vegetables rates last week as compared to the preceding week and further increase would be expected in coming days on the pretext of Eid-ul-Azha. Traders of the twin cities have already increased vegetables' prices with an excuse of recent torrential rains and floods, which destroyed standing vegetables crops and now they are flexing their muscles to further increase the prices ahead of Eid.
They were of the view that recent hike was due to floods, but that it is an artificial increase aimed at pocketing more money at the religious festivities. They added that prices of food items will further increase in days to come. The survey noted that tomato was being sold at Rs 85-90 per kg by the retailers against Rs 80 per kg week past price, registering an increase of Rs 5-10 per kg, onions were available at Rs 70-75 per kg in the retail markets of the twin cities against Rs 60-65 per kg last week price, reflecting an increase of Rs 5-10 per kg, potatoes were bring sold at Rs 85 per kg by the retailers against Rs 80 per kg past week price , reflecting an increase of Rs 5 per kg.
Prices of other vegetables were; green chili at Rs 70-80 per kg, pumpkin at Rs 60-65 per kg, okra at Rs 60, shimla mirch at Rs 80-90 per kg , cucumber at Rs 80 per kg and cabbage was being sold at Rs 65 per kg during the week past as compared to the preceding week. The survey also noted increase in some fruit prices during the period under review, as grapes were being sold at Rs 150-170 per kg against Rs 120-150 per kg week past week price, registering an increase of Rs 20-30 per kg, different qualities of apple were available between Rs 110-230 per kg against Rs 100-200 per kg, reflecting an increase of Rs 10-30 per kg. However, prices of other fruits remained stable last week as compared to the preceding week, as banana was being sold at Rs 80-150 per dozen, guava at Rs 80 per kg and peach at Rs 80-100 per kg.
No significant increase was noted in the prices of non perishable food items as prices of rice, flour, ghee/cocking oil, sugar and milk remained unchanged during the week past as compared to the preceding week. During the period under review, meat prices also remain unchanged as mutton was being sold at Rs 640-660 while beef was available at Rs 370-420 per kg. However, slight decrease was witnessed in chicken prices as it dropped from Rs 140-145 to Rs 135 per kg last week as compared to the preceding week.
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