Prices of pulses, vegetable, chicken meat, and other important kitchen items, have marginally decreased in retail market, during last week, as compared to preceding week, according to survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Sunday.
Traders in provincial capital Peshawar said that prices of pulses have shown downward trend since last one-month, due to improving supply of these commodities. They expressed hope that prices will further go down in coming days, due to which consumers would get relief in decreasing in rates of essential food items.
The survey noticed that price of big kabali channa has gone down at Rs170 per kilogram, which was selling at Rs 200 per kg, a few days back. Similarly, rate of Dal mash is also decreased slightly as available at Rs 260 per kilogram, against the previous price of Rs 280 per kg, while douti dal being sold at Rs 140 per kilogram, which was selling at Rs 160 per kg in retail market. Price of moong is also fall in retail market, as available at Rs 140 per kilogram, against the previous rate of Rs 160 per kg.
It was witnessed that good quality rice is being sold at Rs 110 per kilogram, against the previous rate of Rs 120 per kilogram, Dal channa priced at Rs 160 per kilogram, Dal green chalka at Rs 140 per kg, white lobiya at Rs 110 per kg, Red bean is being sold at Rs 110 per kilogram.
Price of sugar is still high side, as available at Rs 72 and Rs 75 per kilogram in retail market, the survey noticed. The shopkeepers said that the price of sugar is increasing gradually in wholesale market that has great impact on retail rate, which was ultimately suffered the poverty-stricken masses.
According to survey, the prices of all quality and brands of cooking/ghee are available at reasonable rates, as available within range of Rs 160, Rs 165 and Rs 170 per litre cooking oil, while ghee priced with same rate in retail market.
The survey also noticed that a sharp declined in prices of vegetable, particularly, tomato, onion, ginger and garlic, which are mostly used kitchen items. A one-kilogram tomato is being sold at Rs 30, which was selling a few days back at Rs 50 and Rs 70 per kilogram.
Similarly, onion is being sold at Rs 20 per kilogram, against the previous price of Rs 40 per kg. Ginger is being available at Rs 100 per kilogram, which was selling at Rs 120 and Rs 140 per kilogram during the preceding week. Garlic is available at Rs 230 per kilogram, against the price of Rs 250 per kilogram in a few days back.
According to survey, the chicken price has also gone down during four days of Eid-ul-Azha, but the chicken meat is available at a reasonable price in retail market. A dozen of farm eggs are being sold at Rs 100 per kilogram. Cow meat being available at Rs 340 per kilogram and mutton at Rs 600 per kilogram.
Fruit prices are still costlier in retail market, beyond the purchasing power of the poor masses. Gauva is being sold at Rs 120 per kilogram, mango at Rs 80 per kilogram, grapes big-size at Rs 120 and small-size at Rs 80 per kilogram, a dozen of banana at Rs 40 and Rs 50.