Prices of the essential kitchen items have witnessed a mixed trend, according to a survey conducted by Business Recorder on Saturday. The survey indicated that the prices of onions, tomatoes, potatoes, live chicken, eggs, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), registered a decline during the week under review. Prices of the pluses, wheat flour, rice, loose milk, tea and spices remained unchanged while the prices of packed milk, bakery items, including bread and jams, registered an increase.
In wholesale market, five kg of onions were being sold at Rs 100 as against Rs 140 during the preceding week and in retail it was Rs 40 per kg; five kg of tomatoes were available between Rs 280-300, five kg potatoes were being sold between Rs 80 and Rs 100 as against last week's rates of Rs 120. Ginger was available at Rs 100 against Rs 160 per kg, garlic (Rs 100 per kg) as against Rs 160. Cucumber was available at Rs 50 per kg as against Rs 60 per kg during preceding week. Green chili was being sold at Rs 60 per kg as against last week's rate of Rs 120. Shimla Mirch (capsicum), okra and peas were the most expensive vegetables in the market selling at Rs 100 per kg, Rs 90 per kg and Rs 80 per kg, while Arvi (Taro) was available at Rs 40 per kg and cabbage at Rs 25.
The prices of all the fruits and vegetables have been reduced in the wholesale market, while in retail market retailers did not pass on the benefits of the reduced prices to their customers. Prices of live chicken varied from market to market as its rates ranged between Rs 100 and Rs 130 per kg as against Rs 120 to Rs 40 per kg in the past week, while chicken meat was available at Rs 220 per kg as against Rs 250 per kg. Prices of a dozen eggs were reduced by Rs 10 per dozen from Rs 100 per dozen to Rs 90 per dozen. Prices of fresh milk ranged between Rs 80 and Rs 90 per kg, while Nestle has increased the price of its one litre milk pack from Rs 100 to Rs 120.
Beef was available at Rs 300 per kg and mutton was being sold between Rs 600 and Rs 650 per kg. Traders in the local market said prices of pulses and other food grains remained unchanged as their prices are subject to their production and yield, rather than reduction in petroleum products prices. However, no significant change was witnessed in the prices of food grains, as a bag of 49-kg good quality rice was being sold between Rs 4800 and Rs 5200, whereas a 49 kg bag of low quality rice was available at Rs 4000 in the wholesale market.
A 50 kg bag of Kabli Moong was available at Rs 6800, Dal Chana at Rs 3500 and Malka Masoor at Rs 5800, Chana at Rs 4200, red beans at Rs 4300, Dal mash green at Rs 7000, red mauwa between Rs 7000 and Rs 8000, Dal mash yellow between Rs 7000 and Rs 7200, while a 50 kg bag of sugar was available at Rs 2300. Good quality banaspati rice was available at Rs 160 per kg.