The prices of most of the essential kitchen items have witnessed an increase during this week past compared to previous week, a survey conducted by Business Recorder revealed here on Saturday.

The survey observed that during the week Nestle has increased milk pack price from Rs 810 per carton to Rs 890 per carton, Nestle Juice from Rs 180 per litre pack to Rs 200 per litre pack, different biscuit manufacturing companies have increased the normal biscuit pack price from Rs 17 per pack to Rs 20 per pack, soap manufacturers have reduced the size of their produce instead of increasing prices, wheat flour price increased from Rs 680 per 15kg bag to Rs 760 per bag, Procter and Gamble produce baby pampers price went up from Rs 1,800 per pack to Rs 2,900 per pack, fresh milk price increased from Rs 110 per kg to Rs 120 per kg.

Lipton yellow label tea price has increased from Rs 900 per kg pack to Rs 995 per kg pack, fine quality basmati rice price has increased from Rs 150 per kg to Rs 175 per kg, while normal quality rice from Rs 80 per kg to Rs 100 per kg, chilli powder from Rs 350 per kg to Rs 380 per kg, turmeric from Rs 260 per kg to Rs 300 per kg, Maash pulse price jumped up from Rs 160 per kg to Rs 200 per kg and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) domestic cylinder 15kg price jumped up from Rs 1,700 per cylinder to Rs 1,900 per cylinder. The survey noted that sugar price has reduced from Rs 4,050 per 50kg bag to Rs 3,550 per 50kg bag in wholesales market while retailers so far has not passed on the impact to the end consumers.

People while talking to Business Recorder said that to defuse the impact of increasing wheat flour price, Prime Minister Imran Khan-led government cut the size of wheat flour bag from 20kg to 15kg, saying 20kg wheat flour price had crossed Rs 900 mark which was available at Rs 730 during Nawaz Sharif government but now 15kg wheat flour bag price has also crossed the level of Rs 730.

They said within over one year rule of Imran Khan, tea price has doubled, ghee prices have increased 40 percent, vegetable/pulses prices have gone beyond the reach of common man.

The people said that two years ago, best quality baby pampers' pack was available at Rs 1,200 per pack which now has reached Rs 2,900 per pack, saying the present government was bent upon forcing the people commit suicides.

However, during week under review vegetable prices witnessed a mixed trend as onions price reduced from Rs 400 per 5kg to Rs 350 per 5kg which in retail are being sold at Rs 80-85 per kg against Rs 90-95 per kg, tomatoes price went up from Rs 325 per 5kg to Rs 430 per 5kg which were being sold Rs 110 per kg against Rs 80-85 per kg and potatoes' price remained unchanged at Rs 220 per 5kg which were being sold at Rs 50-55 per kg.

Garlic price went down from Rs 850 per 5kg to Rs 775 per 5kg which in retail was being sold at Rs 230 per kg against Rs 250 per kg and Chinese garlic price remained unchanged at Rs 900 per 5kg which in retail was available at Rs 275 per kg. Ginger price remained stable at Rs 1,700 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 400 per kg.

Egg price is stable at Rs 115 per dozen which in the retail market was being sold at Rs 130 per dozen, chicken price remained stable at Rs 5,700 which in the retail market was being sold at Rs 160 per kg while chicken meat was being sold at Rs 260 per kg.

Various qualities of pumpkin prices went up from Rs 325-375 to per 5kg to Rs 350-450 per 5kg which were being sold in the range of Rs 95-120 per kg against Rs 80-95 per kg, yam price went up from Rs 400 per 5kg to Rs 450 per 5kg which in the retail market was being sold at Rs 110 per kg against Rs 95 per kg.

Peas price went up from Rs 1,200 per 5kg to Rs 1,250 per 5kg which in retail were being sold at Rs 260 per kg against Rs 250 per kg, beans price remained stable at Rs 475 per 5kg which in the retail market were being sold at Rs 120 per kg, various qualities of tinda prices went down from Rs 550-750 per 5kg to Rs 450-550 per 5kg to which in the retail market were being sold in the range of Rs 110-140 per kg against Rs 120-170 per kg; and green chili price went up from Rs 770 per 5kg to Rs 1,000 per 5kg which in retail are being sold at Rs 225-250 per kg against Rs 170-190 per kg. Turnip price went down from Rs 300 per 5kg to Rs 260 per 5kg which in the retail market was being sold at Rs 65 per kg against Rs 75 per kg.

Capsicum price went up from Rs 450 to Rs 900 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 210-220 per kg against Rs 100 per kg; cucumber remained stable at Rs 275 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 75 per kg; cauliflower price further went up from Rs 350 per 5kg to Rs 375 per 5kg which was being sold at Rs 95-100 per kg against Rs 90 per kg, and green zucchini (tori) price remained stable at Rs 400 per 5kg which in the retail market was being sold at Rs 100 per kg.

Overall fruit prices also witnessed a declining trend as golden apple was being sold at Rs 130 per kg against Rs 160 per kg, Gaja apple was available at Rs 110 per kg against Rs 130 per kg, white apple in the range of Rs 50-80 against Rs 70-90 per kg Pakistani Kalkilo apple at Rs 145 per kg against Rs 160 per kg and Iranian at Rs 150 per kg against Rs 175 per kg. Good quality local banana was being sold at Rs 70 per dozen while normal quality banana was being sold in the range of Rs 40-55 dozen, and guava was available at Rs 100 per kg. Fresh arrival various brands of oranges were being sold at Rs 150-220 per dozen, grapes were being sold in the range of Rs 100-180 per kg against Rs 100-220 per kg, and sweet orange were available at Rs 150-225 per dozen and pomegranates are being sold in the range of Rs 150-225 per kg.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2019