Prices of essential kitchen items witnessed a reduction during this week past 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, chicken and eggs decreased while fruits prices increased; however, no change was witnessed in prices of cooked food items, spices and other non-perishable items.
Potatoes prices reduced from Rs 150 to Rs 100 per 5kg which were being sold at Rs 25 against Rs 30-35 per kg in the retail market, and onions price came down from Rs 150 to Rs 120 per 5kg which were being sold at Rs 30 against Rs 35 per kg in the retail market. Tomatoes price came down from Rs 150 to Rs 120 per 5kg which were being sold at Rs 30 against Rs 40 per kg in the retail market.
Prices of various qualities of garlic came down from Rs 350-450 to Rs 300-400 per 5kg which were being sold at Rs 70-95 against Rs 80-100 per kg in the retail market; ginger price reduced from Rs 750 to Rs 650 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 170 against Rs 190 per kg the in retail market; and Thai ginger was being sold at Rs 500 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 140 per kg in the retail market.
Wheat flour price remained stable at Rs 780 per 20kg bag; egg price came down from Rs 120 to Rs 110 per dozen in the retail market; live chicken price went down from Rs 6,000 to Rs 5,500 per 40kg while it was being sold at Rs 180 per kg against Rs 190-200 per kg in the retail market; and chicken meat was being sold at Rs 300 against Rs 330 per kg.
Prices of all major pulses remained stable as fine quality white lentil (Maash) was being sold at Rs 160 per kg and its normal quality was available at Rs 130 per kg; good quality grams at Rs 160 per kg and its normal quality at Rs130 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 also remained stable which during the past week increased. Normal quality ghee/cooking oil was being sold at Rs 150 per 900 grams pack while best quality ghee/cooking oil was being sold at Rs 1,030 per 5 litres tin. Various qualities of fish were available in the range of Rs 300 to Rs 600 per kg.
Sugar price was found stable at Rs 2,700 per 50kg bag which 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 came down from Rs 350 to Rs 300 per 5kg was being sold at Rs 75 against Rs 80-85 per kg in the retail market; yam (arvi) price came down from Rs 220 to Rs 200 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 50 against Rs 55 per kg in the retail market; carrot price reduced from Rs 180 to Rs 120 per 5kg while it was being sold at Rs 30-35 against Rs45-50 per kg in the retail market.
Bean price went down from Rs 250 to Rs 140 per 5kg while it was being sold at Rs 40 against Rs 60-55 per kg in retail market; okra price went up from Rs 260 to Rs 300 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 75 against Rs 65-70 per kg in the retail market; and ridge gourd (tori) price went up from Rs 250 per 5kg to Rs 320 per 5 kg which was being sold at Rs 80 per kg against Rs 70-75 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 witnessed an increase as white apple was available at Rs 75 against Rs 60 per kg; golden apple at Rs 100 against Rs 80 per kg, Pakistani Kala Kalo apple at Rs 120 against 110 per kg; gaja apple at Rs 90 against Rs 75 per kg; and Iranian Kala Kalo apple was available at Rs 150 against Rs 140 per kg.
Local good quality banana was available at Rs 80 against Rs 70 per dozen; normal quality banana was available in the range of Rs 60-65 against Rs 45-55 per dozen; and 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 oranges were available in the range of Rs 90-150 against Rs 75-90 per dozen while Kandhari pomegranate was being sold in the range of Rs 120-150 per kg.