Prices of the most kitchen items remained stable, during May 2009, in the wholesale and retail markets of Southern Punjab, such as those of Multan, Bahawalpur, Dera Ghazi Khan, Layyah, Sahiwal, Khanewal, Mian Chunnu, Sadiqabad, Rahimyarkhan,Kotadu.
Wheat prices, during the month, were found to be on the lower side due to the arrival of a large quantity in the market, following the registration of a bumper crop in all districts of Punjab. Wheat is currently available to millers and chakki owners, from official godowns, at Rs 2,460 per 100 kg bag.
The prices of ghee and cooking oil were found to be surging during the last one month owing to an upward trend in the prices of palm oil in the international market. The items that recorded an increase in their average prices, during May, included some pulses, cooking oil and ghee, potatoes, onion, basen and tomatoes.
The items that registered a decrease in their prices included some pulses, eggs, dry milk, chicken meat, white peas, wheat, sugar, eggs, and some fruits. The items with no change in their average prices included some pulses, garlic, ginger, milk, tea, some fruits and rice.
Chicken meat rates went down despite a surge in its demand, spurred by the ongoing wedding season. Currently, chicken meat is priced at Rs 160 to Rs 165 as compared to the previous month's rate of Rs 180 to Rs 190 per kg. Similarly the rates of live birds have also fallen to the level of Rs 90 per kg from its previous month's rate of Rs 110 to Rs 112 per kg.
The convenor of the Wholesalers Poultry Association, Syed Tayyab Zaidi, attributed it to better production. A majority of poultry farm owners, anticipating a surge in the demand of chicken meat, improved their production, which caused a decline in its rates during the month. He said that egg prices declined as they were currently priced at Rs 44 to Rs 45 per dozen, as compared to the previous month's price of Rs 52 per dozen, in the retail markets.
General Secretary Karyana Merchants Association, Abdul Hafeez, said that a mixed trend was witnessed in the prices of pulses, as either they remained stable or surged. The ex-mill price of atta also stabilised, as it is currently priced at Rs 28 to Rs 29 per kg, as millers have been able to acquire a large quantity of wheat from interior Sindh, which has helped them improve their existing stocks.
"Manufacturers and importers increased the prices of all ghee and cooking oil brands by Rs 6 to Rs 7 per kg and Rs 5 to Rs 6 per kg respectively." Prices of quality colonel rice and other varieties also remained unchanged in the wholesale and retail markets. The price of quality Col.
Rice ranges from Rs 80 per kg to Rs 100 per kg. Dal Masur's price remained unchanged, as it was currently priced at Rs 115 per kg in the retail markets of Southern Punjab. Similarly, the price of Dal Moong (Sabit) also remained unchanged as it was currently available at Rs 55 per kg, while no change was witnessed in the price of black peas (Kala channa). It was currently available at Rs 44 to Rs 45 per kg.
The rates of quality white pea (Kabli Channa) went down, as it was currently sold at Rs 85 per kg, compared to the previous month rate of Rs 88. Dal Mash rate surged during the last month, as it was currently priced at Rs 80 per kg, compared to the previous price of Rs 78 per kg. The retail price of basen also scaled up to the level of Rs 65 per kg, compared to the previous price of Rs 60 per kg during the month of April, an increase of up to Rs 5 per kg.
The retail sugar prices surged during the last month, as it was currently sold at Rs 44 to Rs 45 per kg compared to the previous price of 43 to Rs 44 per kg. The price of Fine atta and Chakki atta remained stabilised during May as they are currently available at Rs 34 per kg and Rs 32 per kg respectively. Dry milk prices declined in the wholesale and retail markets as it was currently sold at Rs 360 to Rs 370 per kg, compared to the previous month's old rates of Rs 385 to Rs 400 per kg.
The price of fine quality onion in the wholesale and retail markets continue to remain stabilised in the wake of the start of the local production season, which has vastly helped improve its availability. The commodity is currently available in the retail markets at Rs 20 to Rs 22 per kg.
The price of potato has surged in the retail and wholesale markets as it was currently priced at Rs 15 to Rs 17 per kg at retail outlets, which was higher compared to the April rates of Rs 12 to Rs 14 per kg. The retail price of garlic, a vital food ingredient, continues fetching the old rates of Rs 60 to Rs 65 per kg, indicating stability in its prices. The price of ginger remained hovering at Rs 75 per kg to Rs 80 per kg in the retail markets.
The retail price of tomato, in May, surged to the level of Rs 22 to Rs 25 per kg, to the previous month's rates of Rs 18 to Rs 20 per kg. The Chairman of the Wholesale Vegetable and Fruit Merchants' Association, Haji Ikram, said that a mixed trend prevailed in the price of different kinds of vegetables during May, which, he attributed to their demand and supply situation.
Papayya, continued to be sold in the retail markets at Rs 20 to Rs 25 per kg, manifesting stability in its prices. Mango's retail price ranges from Rs 40 to Rs 60 per kg, while banana was available at Rs 25 to Rs 40 per dozen, depending on the quality of the fruit. Watermelon and melon fruits, in May, were available in the retail markets at Rs 15 per kg and Rs 20 per kg respectively.
The prices of tea remained stabilised during the last month in the wholesale and retail markets as one kg of branded tea packet fetched between Rs 350 per kg to Rs 380 per kg. Importers have attributed high tea prices to the continued high value of the dollar as against the local currency. The Pakistan Tea Association spokesman attributed the continued high tea rates in the markets to be a result of the devaluation of the local currency as against the US dollar.