An upward trend was witnessed in the prices of the most of the essential food items including vegetables, fruits and chicken last week as compared to the preceding week, reveals a survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Saturday. Traders and wholesalers in different markets of the twin cities of Rawalpindi/Islamabad said that sugar price increased by Rs 3 per kg and was available at Rs 55 per kg in the markets.
They maintained that chicken prices also soared last week as compared to the preceding week, as it was available at Rs 135-140 per kg against Rs 125 per kg last week, reflecting an increase of Rs 10-15 per kg. About the prices of perishable food items like vegetables, they said that prices of most of the vegetables increased last week as compared to the preceding week.
The survey noted that onions price increased from Rs 50 kg to Rs 70 per kg, reflecting an increase of Rs 20 per kg, tomato price increased from Rs 65 to Rs 70 per kg, reflecting an increase of Rs 5 per kg, Shimla Mirch was available at Rs 85 per kg, potatoes were being sold at Rs 40 per kg and green chili was being sold at Rs 80 per kg last week past as compared to the preceding week.
Slight increase was noted in fruit prices last week as compared to the preceding week, banana was available at Rs 110-130 per dozen against Rs 100-120 per dozen last week, registering an increase of Rs 10 per dozen, apple was available at Rs 130-200 per kg, Kinnow at Rs 90-140 per dozen and Shikary Malta was being sold at Rs 125-150 per dozen last week as compared to the preceding week.
Meanwhile, slight increase was also observed in meat prices during the same period, as mutton was available at Rs 580 per kg against Rs 560 per kg week past, registering an increase of Rs 20 per kg while beef was being sold at Rs 370 per kg against Rs 360 per kg week past price, reflecting an increase of Rs 10 per kg.
The survey noted that a tin of cooking oil (2.5 litres) was available at Rs 535, vegetable ghee (2.5 kg) at Rs 505, but vegetable ghee (loose) was available at Rs 160-165 per kg last week as compared to the preceding week. A 20 kg wheat flour bag was available at Rs 670-700 and fresh milk was being sold at Rs 75-80 per litre last week against the prices of the preceding week.
Prices of entire range of pluses last week as compared to the preceding week were: Masoor washed was available at Rs 110, Moong washed at Rs 125-140 per kg, mash washed at Rs 150-160 per kg. Basmati rice broken was being sold at Rs 80-90 per kg, while colonel rice was available at Rs 130 per kg last week as compared to the preceding week.