Prices of essential kitchens items have witnessed an increasing trend during this past week compared to the week before, a survey conducted by Business Recorder revealed here on Saturday.

The survey observed an increase in the fruit, some of the vegetables; chicken, eggs, pulses and rice prices, while stability in the prices of wheat flour, spices and other items. But the prices of Ramazan-specific items have witnessed an increase due to shortage of supply and increase in demand.

Over the past three weeks, prices of normal quality ghee brands such as Phool, Fauji and others, which are mostly used by low income people, have gone up from Rs2,100 per carton to Rs2,500 per carton, which in retail is being sold at Rs180 per kg as against Rs160 per kg before.

Egg prices went up from Rs105 in wholesale to Rs110 per dozen, which in retail is being sold at Rs120 per dozen against Rs115 per dozen.

Sugar prices went up from Rs3,800 per 50kg bag to Rs3,920 per bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs85 per kg against Rs83 per kg.

Wheat flour price has witnessed a slight increase of Rs10 per 15kg bag from Rs700 to Rs710 per 15kg bag in wholesale market, which in retail is being sold at Rs740 per 15kg bag against Rs730.

People told this correspondent that the prices of Ramazan-related items such as lemons, basin, pickles and beverages had already been increased two weeks before the start of Ramazan.

They said that with the start of the holy month prices of these items had witnessed a further increase.

Chicken price went up from Rs4,500 per 40kg to Rs4,800 per 40kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs150 per kg against Rs135 per kg, while chicken meat is available at Rs250 per kg against Rs225 per kg.

There is no change in the prices of spices, salt, turmeric, red chillies, and fresh milk.

Traders associated with the business of sugar and wheat flour told this correspondent that sugar millers have adopted a new technique to fleece the masses for a couple of weeks now, they keep sugar price stable and after that suddenly without any reason increase the commodity price by upto Rs100 per 50kg bag, and the trend has continued for the last three weeks. Now that the price has touched Rs4,200 per 50kg bag the millers have started reducing prices.

Traders said that the millers are touching as low as Rs3,800 per 50kg sugar bag price and then start increasing, adding that over the past six months, the millers have generated multi-billion rupees by adopting the technique.

During this week, prices of all the major pulses witnessed an increase as moong pulse after touching Rs12,000 per 40kg mark in wholesales market is no more available in the retail, best quality lobia is available at Rs230 per kg, maash pulse from Rs265 per kg to Rs280 per kg, masoor pulse price jumped further up from Rs170 per kg to Rs175 per kg, chana pulse remained stable at Rs170 per kg, normal quality lobia is available in the range of Rs170 per kg to Rs180 per kg.

During the week, prices of most of the vegetables witnessed an increasing trend as price of onions went up from Rs225 per 5kg to Rs250 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs65 per kg against Rs55-60 per kg.

Tomato price went up from Rs180 per 5kg to Rs220 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs50 per kg against Rs45-50 per kg.

Potato price remained stable at Rs180 per 5kg, which in retail are being sold at Rs45 per kg.

Garlic price went down from Rs1,350 per 5kg to Rs1,300 per 5kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs340 per kg as against Rs350 per kg, and ginger price also went down from Rs1,500 per 5kg to Rs1,200 per 5kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs350 per kg against Rs400 per kg.

Overall fruit prices witnessed an increasing trend as best quality white apple price went up from Rs120 per kg to Rs130 per kg, while normal is available in the range of Rs90-100 per kg against Rs80-90 per kg, Pakistan Kalakilo apple price went further up from Rs150 per kg to Rs170 per kg, Iranian Kalakilo apple price went down from Rs190 per kg to Rs180 per kg, and golden apple price went further up from Rs135 per kg to Rs150 per kg.

Good quality banana is being sold at Rs100 per dozen against Rs110 per dozen, normal quality banana at Rs60-70 against Rs65-75 per dozen, guava price remained stable at Rs80-90 per kg.

Various qualities of oranges are available in the range of Rs60 per dozen to Rs200 per dozen, strawberry price at Rs100-150 per kg against Rs120-180 per kg, and melons at Rs65 per kg against Rs60 per kg.