The prices of essential kitchen items, especially Eid-ul-Azha-specific commodities including onions, tomatoes, spices, green tea, yoghurt, milk and fruits, registered sharp increase during the current week compared to last week, a survey carried out by Business Recorder on Saturday showed.
The survey noted that retailers were charging their own prices of different vegetables, spices and fruits. Despite substantial increase in prices of these items, artificial shortage of onions, green chillies, tomatoes and hara dhania (coriander leaves/kothmir) was also observed.
Tomatoes, available at Rs 80 per kg last week, were now being sold at Rs 120 per kg this week, which is highest price during the current year. Main reason behind the increase was attributed to short supply. However, vegetable traders said that due to increase in use of the commodity, the prices had jacked up.
Entire range of spices including turmeric, clove, ilaichi (cardamom) and darchini (cinnamon) registered increase of Rs 25-50 per kg. Suppliers of branded spices like Shan, National and Dewan also increased the prices of their brands by Rs 3 to 5 per packet. The survey showed that prices of pulses Mash, Masoor, Moong and Lobia registered significance decrease. Prices of Mash, Masoor, Moong and Lobia decreased by Rs 30 per kg, while Chana price increased by Rs 20-25 per kg due to short supply.
Traders at Rawalpindi/ Islamabad wholesale markets told Business Recorder that the prices had started increasing since last week and as Eid was coming closer, prices further jacked up. Ginger, garlic and lemon are being sold at Rs 100 per kg, Rs 70 per kg, Rs 160 per kg, Rs 160 per kg and Rs 100 per kg respectively, which during last week were being sold at Rs 50 per kg, Rs 40 per kg, Rs 120 per kg, Rs 120 per kg and Rs 80 per kg, respectively.
The price of cauliflower increased by Rs 10 per kg is available at Rs 45 per kg against Rs 35 per kg last week; potato price increased by Rs 5 per kg is being sold at Rs 45 per kg against Rs 40 per kg, cabbage price registered an increase of Rs 5 per kg is available at Rs 35 per kg against Rs 30 last week, tomatoes price witness an increase of Rs 50 per kg is available at Rs 100 per kg against Rs 50 per kg last week, onions prices witnessed an increase of Rs 30 per kg is being sold at Rs 70 per kg against last week and bakers have increased the price of medium size bread by Rs 2 and large size by Rs 4.
Prices of okra, karela, kado and other vegetables also registered increase in their prices. A few weeks back ginger, garlic and lemon prices had come down, but this week ginger price registered an increase of Rs 40 per, garlic Rs 40 and lemon Rs 20 per kg.
Peas are being sold at Rs 80 per kg, cucumber at Rs 40 per kg, okra at Rs 80 per kg, karela at Rs 70 per kg and Shimla mirch at Rs 60 per kg. However, prices of live chicken and chicken meat registered decrease of Rs 20 per kg and Rs 30 per kg. Last week live chicken was available at Rs 128 per kg, and chicken meat at Rs 210 per kg, which this week is being sold at Rs 110 per kg and Rs 190 per kg.
Survey further noted that prices of most of the fruits remained on the high side without significant change during the week under review as compared to the previous week. Apples were available at Rs 150-140 and 130 per kg depending on quality similar to last week price. However banana was available at Rs 50 per dozen against Rs 60 per dozen and grapes at Rs 240 against Rs 220 per kg during the week under review as compared to the previous week.
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