ISLAMABAD: The prices of essential kitchen items have witnessed a declining trend during this week past against the previous week, revealed a survey carried out by Business Recorder, here on Saturday.

The survey observed sugar price remained stable at Rs 7,000 per 50kg bag in the wholesale market, while in retail, sugar is being sold at Rs150 per kg.

Chicken price went down from Rs 17,800 per 40kg to Rs 17,600 per 40kg in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs465 per kg against Rs470 per kg, while chicken meat is being sold at Rs780 per kg; egg price witnessed a significant reduction as it went down from Rs 12,600 per carton to Rs 7,800 per carton which in retail are being sold at Rs310 per dozen against Rs440 per dozen.

Wheat flour price remained unchanged as the best quality wheat flour in the wholesale market is available at Rs 2,110 per 15kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs 2,150 per 15kg bag, normal quality wheat flour bag is available at Rs 2,090 per 15kg bag in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs 2,120 per bag.

Tea prices witnessed no changes as Lipton Yellow Label is available at Rs 2,200 per 900 gram pack and Islamabad Tea is available at Rs 1,800 per kg; powdered chili at Rs550 per kg, and turmeric powder at Rs525 per kg remained stable. Paratha is available at Rs60, roti at Rs25, naan at Rs30 a piece, and a cup of tea at Rs80.

The liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices witnessed no changes as the commodity is being sold at Rs310 per kg, which still is Rs53 per kg higher than the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) set price of Rs257 per kg. The OGRA has set 15kg domestic cylinder LPG price at Rs 3,855, while in various parts of the country it is available at Rs 5,000-5,500 per 15kg cylinder, reflecting an overcharging of Rs 1,160-1,660 per cylinder.

Branded spices such as National, Shan, and others’ prices remained unchanged at Rs120 per pack but the producers have reduced the volume from 43 grams to 39 grams. The price of a cooked daal plate at a normal hotel is Rs250 and a cooked vegetable plate is Rs250.

Rice prices witnessed no changes as the best quality basmati rice is available at Rs 12,500 per 40kg bag, while the retailers are selling it at Rs350 per kg, normal quality Basmati rice is available at Rs 10,300 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs270 per kg, and broken Basmati rice is available at Rs 9,000 per 40kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs250 per kg.

Ghee-cooking oil prices witnessed a declining trend as B-grade ghee-cooking oil prices went down from Rs 5,350 per carton to Rs 5,150 in the wholesale market, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs340-360 per 900 gram pack, while best quality cooking oil-ghee brands such as Dalda ghee price are stable at Rs 2,380 per tin of 5kg and cooking oil at Rs 2,500 per 5-litre bottle.

Pulses’ prices witnessed no changes as best quality maash is available at Rs530 per kg, gram pulse at Rs220 per kg, whole gram pulse at Rs350 per kg, various varieties of bean lentils are available in the range of Rs360-560 per kg, moong at Rs280 per kg, and masoor at Rs300 per kg.

No changes were observed in fresh and packed milk prices as small pack of Milk Pak is available at Rs75 per pack and litre pack at Rs270. Fresh milk prices are stable at Rs200 per kg and yoghurt at Rs240 per kg.

Detergents’ and bathing soaps prices have started going up as Safeguard price went up from Rs170 to Rs180; Ariel Surf price went up by Rs20 per kg from Rs650 to Rs670 per kg pack.

Overall, vegetables prices witnessed a declining trend. Ginger price in the wholesale market went up from Rs2,100 to Rs2,300 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs475-525 per kg against Rs500-550 per kg, local garlic price went down from Rs2,600 per 5kg to Rs2,450 in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs525-575 per kg against Rs550-650 per kg, and China garlic price went up from Rs2,200 per 5kg to Rs2,400 in the wholesale market, which in retail is available in the range of Rs550-600 per kg against Rs500-560 per kg.

Potato prices witnessed a reduction as it went down from Rs120-250 per 5kg to Rs120-200 in the wholesale market, which in retail are being sold at Rs30-55 per kg against Rs30-60 per kg, tomato prices went down from Rs1,300 to Rs1,100 per basket in the wholesale market, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs75-100 against Rs80-110 per kg, and onion price went down from Rs700-1,000 per 5kg to Rs550-850, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs125-200 per kg against Rs145-230 per kg.

Capsicum price went down from Rs1,200 to Rs800 per 5kg in the wholesale market which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs200-230 per kg against Rs250-270 per kg, the prices of various varieties of pumpkin went down as they were available in the range of Rs550-650 per 5kg against Rs750-850 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs135-150 per kg against Rs165-190 per kg; tinda price went down from Rs900 to Rs550 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs140-160 per kg against Rs190-210 per kg; eggplant price went up from Rs500 to Rs550 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold at Rs125-150 per kg against Rs120-140 per kg; cauliflower price went down from Rs600 to Rs550, which in retail is being sold in the range of Rs135-160 against Rs125-145 per kg, and cabbage price went down from Rs550-600 per 5kg to Rs500 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs120-130 per kg against Rs130-140 per kg. Bitter gourd price went up from Rs850-950 to Rs950-1,150 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs230-250 per kg against Rs200-220 per kg and cucumber price went down from Rs650 per 5kg to Rs250 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs70-75 per kg against Rs150-170 per kg.

Radish price is stable at Rs170-200 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs50-60 per kg; turnip price went down from Rs250-300 per 5kg to Rs225-250 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs70-80 per kg, yam price is stable at Rs1,000 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs225-240 per kg, peas price went up from Rs1,000-1,100 to Rs1,200-1,500 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs300-330 per kg against Rs225-250 per kg and fresh bean price remained stable at Rs900 per 5kg which in retail are being sold in the range of Rs200-220 per kg.

Fruit prices also witnessed a declining trend as the best quality Iranian Kala Killo apple is available at Rs325 per kg against Rs350 per kg, best quality Pakistani Kala Killo apple are available in the range of Rs225-310 per kg against Rs300-375 per kg, Golden apples are available in the range of Rs145-170 per kg against Rs150-220 per kg, white apples are available in the range of Rs125-200 per kg against Rs150-210 per kg. Bananas’ price went down as bananas are available in the range of Rs70-160 per dozen against Rs75-175 per dozen; guava price are stable at Rs75-140 per kg, Gaja apples are available in the range of Rs120-200 per kg against Rs150-250 per kg; various varieties of oranges are available in the range of Rs60-300 per dozen against Rs70-250 per dozen with special kinnow at Rs300 per dozen is the most expensive and normal quality fruiter at Rs60 per dozen, the cheapest; pomegranate are available in the range of Rs350-500 per kg against Rs250-370 per kg; and grapes are available in the range of Rs400-450 per kg against Rs160-350 per kg.

However, the survey observed that due to ineffective monitoring by commissioner, deputy commissioner (DC), assistant commissioners (ACs), and the special price control magistrates and other relevant departments including, the retailers are free to charge their own prices of not only vegetables and fruits but of other items too.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2024