Skyrocketing inflation: life becoming harder in big cities

The life in the big cities is becoming harder as the prices of essential commodities are continuously surging, making it difficult for the lower and middle income groups to make two ends meet. During the last week of June and at the outset of July, prices of basic commodities like atta, sooji, baisan, vegetables, sugar, chana, daal chana, cooking oil and fruits continued to shoot up, which affected the domestic budget of salaried class.
The price of atta jumped from Rs 530-535 per 20 kg to 560 per 20 kg while the price of fine quality atta increased from Rs 580 per 20 kg to Rs 600 per 20 kg. Sugar 50 kg bag price increased by Rs 110-130. It was being sold at Rs 3340 and reached Rs 3470 during the last week in Sector I-11 market of the capital.
Chana, once considered foodstuff of poor people, seems to be going beyond their reach now as the price of mota chana increased by Rs 200 per 40 kg, from Rs 4700 per 40 kg to Rs 4900-5000 per 40 kg. The price of dal chana further increased from Rs 2420 to 2560 per 40 kg. Last week it had increased by Rs 300 per 40 kg. The price of baisan increased from Rs 2480 to Rs 2600 per 37 kg. The price of cooking oil jumped from Rs 550 to 565 per 3 litses of Seasons Kanola and price of Dalda cooking oil soared from Rs 550 to 570. The price of one litre cooking oil increased from Rs 182 to Rs 190 in the wholesale market.
Prices of rice Karnal, Basmati and Super Karnal increased up to Rs 100 per 40 kg. The price of Karnal was Rs 2600 per 40 which reached Rs 2800 to 3000, Basmati 86 Rs 2000 to 2000, Irri 6 price jumped from Rs 1400 to 1525 per 40 kg. Only the prices of local brand ghee witnessed downward trend by Rs 60-100 per 16 kg but prices of Dalda ghee increased from Rs 895 to 912 per 5 kg. The prices of sooji increased Rs 100 per bushel as first it was being sold at Rs 1525, which reached Rs 1625 during the last week. The price of Capri soap increased from 35 to 38 per cake.
The prices of vegetables also increased in the wholesale market. Bhindi, Karaila, Tomatoes, Teenda, cucumber and chili showed upward trend this week. Bhindi price increased from Rs 30 to Rs 40, Karaila Rs 35-40. Tomatoe price increased from Rs 30 to Rs 50 per kg, Teenda which was being sold at Rs 10-15 per kg touched new height of Rs 30-35 per kg. The price of brijal was almost doubled as it was being sold at Rs 20 per kg which reached Rs 40 per kg during the last week.
The prices of the other commodities including Lemon were Rs 60-80 per kg, which was Rs 80-100 per kg last week, Kaddoo Rs 20 per kg, Green Chilli Rs 40 per kg, Potatoes Rs 120 per 5 kg, onion Rs 60 per 5 kg, garlic Rs 100-130 per kg. Desi Garlic Rs 100 per kg and China Garlic Rs 130 per kg, ginger Rs 90 per kg, dhanyia Rs 10 per bundle and cucumber Rs 30 per kg while desi cucumber was being sold at Rs 15 per kg.
The prices of some fruits witnessed an upward trend of Rs 5-10 that included banana, leechi, apricot and peach. Banana was being sold at Rs 50-80 per dozen, leechi was being sold at Rs 150 per kg and apricot Rs 130 per kg. The prices of mangoes witnessed no change as it ranged between Rs 40 to 100 per kg but all depends upon the variety. There was no major change in the prices of eggs, chicken, mutton and beef.