Prices of essential kitchen items witnessed a reduction during this week as compared to the preceding week, a survey conducted by Business Recorder revealed here on Saturday. The survey observed that during the week under review, prices of most of the vegetables and fruits declined while prices of chicken, eggs and cooked food items went up; however, prices of spices and other non-perishable items remained stable.
Potatoes price reduced from Rs 200 to Rs 130-150 per 5kg which were being sold at Rs 30-35 against Rs 40-50 per kg in the retail market; onions price remained stable at Rs 140 per 5kg which were being sold at Rs 30-35 per kg the retail market. Tomatoes price came down from Rs 200 to Rs 150 per 5kg which were being sold at Rs 40-45 per kg against Rs 50 per kg in the retail market.
Prices of various qualities of garlic further came down from Rs 400-500 to Rs 350-450 per 5kg which were being sold at Rs 80-100 against Rs 90-120 per kg in the retail market; ginger price reduced to Rs 750 per 5 kg from Rs 850 per 5 kg, which in retail market was being sold at Rs 190 against Rs 200 per kg. Lemon price was found stable which was being sold at Rs 100 per kg in the retail market.
Wheat flour price remained stable at Rs 780 per 20kg bag, eggs in the retail market were being sold at Rs 125 against 120 per dozen; live chicken price went up from Rs 5,300 to Rs 6,000 per 40kg while it was being sold at Rs 190-200 against Rs 180 per kg in the retail market and chicken meat was being sold at Rs 330 against Rs 300 per kg.
Prices of all the major pulses remained stable as fine quality white lentil (Maash) was being sold at Rs 160 per kg while its normal quality at Rs 130 per kg; good quality grams at Rs 160 per kg while normal quality grams at Rs 130 per kg; kidney bean (Lobia) in the range of Rs 130-170 per kg; green gram (Moong) at Rs 120 per kg; and red lentil (Masoor) was available at Rs 120 per kg. Ghee/cooking oil prices were also found stable as normal quality ghee/cooking oil was being sold at Rs 140 per 900 grams pack, while best quality ghee/cooking oil was being sold at Rs 990 per 5 litres tin. Various qualities of fish were available in the range of Rs 300 to Rs 600 per kg.
Sugar price remained stable at Rs 2,700 per 50kg bag and it was being sold at Rs 60 per kg in the retail market while no changes were witnessed in prices of powdered milk (Everyday and Nido), packed spices and rice
Capsicum price remained stable at Rs 350 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 80-90 per kg in the retail market; yam (arvi) price remained stable at Rs 220 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 55 per kg in the retail market; carrot price reduced from Rs 270 to Rs 200 per 5kg while it was being sold at Rs 55 against Rs 65-70 per kg in the retail market.
Bean price went down from Rs 275 to Rs 250 per 5kg while it was being sold at Rs 60-55 against Rs 65-70 per kg in the retail market, okra price went up from Rs 200 to Rs 260 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 65-70 per kg against Rs 60 per kg in the retail market; and ridge gourd (tori) price went up from Rs 230 to Rs 250 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 70-75 against Rs 65 per kg in the retail market.
Prices of most of the vegetables including tinda, cauliflower, cabbage, peas, Karela, and others also dipped during the week under review. Fruit prices also witnessed a decline as white apple was available at Rs 60 against Rs 75 per kg; golden apple at Rs 80 against Rs 90 per kg; Pakistani Kala kalo apple at Rs 110 against Rs 125 per kg; Gaja apple at Rs 75 against Rs 90 per kg; and Iranian Kala kalo apple at Rs 150 against Rs 160 per kg.
Local good quality banana was available at Rs 70 against Rs 75 per dozen; normal quality banana in the range of Rs 45-55 per dozen; guava price remained stable as good quality guava was being sold at Rs 80 per kg and its normal quality was available in the range of Rs 50-55 per kg.
Various qualities of grapes were being sold in the range of Rs 100-225 per kg. Various qualities of orange were available in the range of Rs 75-90 against Rs 100-90 per dozen; Japanese fruit at Rs 75 per kg; and Kandhari pomegranate was being sold in the range of Rs 120-150 per kg.