Prices remain on high side

TAHIR AMIN

ISLAMABAD: Prices of essential kitchen items remained on the high side without significant changes during the current week compared to last week, a survey carried out by Business Recorder on Saturday showed.

In the twin cities of Islamabad/Rawalpindi, traders told this scribe that prices of some essential kitchen items increased significantly. However, rates of some other commodities registered nominal decline.

Prices of vegetables and fruits registered mixed trend, according to the survey.

It was noted that despite substantial decrease in edible oil prices owing to decline in the price of palm oil in international market, the impact was not passed on to end consumers. As a result of rupee depreciation, cost of imported oil also increased which was transferred to end consumers, dealers added. However, sugar and gur prices registered a decrease of Rs 2 and Rs 10 per kg respectively.

However,, the price of eggs continuously increased during last few weeks due to increase in demand. Currently, a dozen eggs are available at Rs 110 per against last week's Rs 105 with an increase of Rs 5 per dozen.

In the wholesale market, tomatoes were being sold at Rs 250 per 5 kg, which, in the retail market, were being sold at Rs 70-80 per kg. This indicates that shopkeepers are overcharging the consumers. Onions were being sold at Rs 50-55 per kg against last week's Rs 45 per kg; ginger at Rs 185 per kg against Rs 175-180 per kg last week and garlic at Rs 210 per kg against Rs 220 of last week. At present, green chilies are being sold at Rs 125-130 per kg against Rs 110-120 per kg last week and cauliflower at Rs 45 per kg against Rs 50.

Potatoes are available at Rs 40 per kg against Rs 35 of last week, while arvi was available at Rs 50 against Rs 40-45 last week. However prices of most of the pulses recorded a nominal decrease including red beans, washed moong pulse and black gram by Rs 1 to 2 each respectively.

Due to winter, prices of all varieties of dry fruits have shot up. However, fresh fruits showed mixed trend. Price of banana remained at Rs 60 per dozen against Rs 50-55 of last week. Guava price registered a decline of Rs 5-10 per kg as it was being sold at Rs 50 per kg against Rs 55-60 per kg. Apple was available at Rs 130 to 160 depending on quality against Rs 120 to 140 per kg last week.