Prices of essential items witness upward trend

A manifold increase in prices of rice, chicken, eggs, sugar, fruits, and other important daily use items was witnessed in preceding week as compared to previous week, according to survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Sunday. Traders in provincial capital Peshawar attributed that prices have gone up due to recent hike in dollar rates during last couple days. They expressed fear that the rates of essential commodities would further increase in coming week. They said the rice sac has increased by Rs 1000 / - in wholesale market, which resultantly jacked up prices in retail market.
Good quality (sela) rice has touched new peak as available at Rs 150 per kg, which was selling at Rs 120 per kg in previous week, showing an increase of Rs 30 per kg in retail market, while local quality is being sold at Rs 120 per kg in retail market, the survey said.
It also said the price of chicken meat has risen manifold in retail market, as available at Rs 170 per kg against the price of Rs 140 per kg in the last week. A dozen of egg is being sold at Rs 150, which was selling at Rs 130 per dozen, showing an increase of Rs 20 per dozen in retail market. One kilogram sugar is being sold at Rs 60, which was selling at Rs 52 per kg in retail market, the survey noticed.
The survey witnessed a slight increase in prices of various quality pulses in the retail market. The retail price of dal mash is Rs 160 per kg, which was selling at Rs 140 per kg in previous week. A big kabali channa is being sold at Rs 200 per kg against the price of Rs 180 per kg.
The small-size red bean locally produced in Dir district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is being sold at Rs 200 per kg, while parachinar district red bean was available at Rs 170 per kg, while the red bean imported from Tajikistan is being available at Rs 120 per kg. Dal green is being sold at Rs 120 per kg, dal masoor at Rs 100 per kg, moonge at Rs 120 per kg.
The survey further said that good quality gram flour (baisen) is being sold at Rs 140 per kg, while it was available at Rs 120 per kilogram in retail market. It was witnessed that cooking oil/ghee of all brands and quality was remained stable as no significant increase or reduction witnessed in previous week, as available at Rs 165 per litre, Rs 170 and Rs 180 per litre in retail market.
According to survey, the prices of vegetable remained unchanged in local market. Tomato is being sold at Rs 70 per kg, while big-size onion is also available at Rs 70 and small at Rs 60-50 per kg. Garlic is being sold at Rs 120 per kg, while ginger is still costlier in retail market, as available at Rs 280-300 per kg.
The survey noticed that peas is available at Rs 150 per kg, Shimla mirch at Rs 120 per kg, ladyfinger at Rs 80 per kg, cabbage at Rs 60 per kg, cauliflower at Rs 50 per kg, lemon at Rs 80 per kg, green chili at Rs 90 per kg, calabash at Rs 50 per kg, tinda at Rs 40 per kg.
Butchers are defying the official rates, and selling cow meat at exorbitant rate in retail market, according to which cow beef is being available at Rs 300, Rs 320 and Rs 340 per kg. Mutton is being sold at Rs 700 and Rs 750 per kg.
Fruits are staple food, which is also reaching out purchasing power of the common man, as prices have registered 'sky-high' in retail market. According to survey, apple is being sold at Rs 120 and Rs 150 per kg, pomegranate at Rs 150 per kg, grapes at Rs 100 per kg, guava at Rs 80 per kg, banana at Rs 50 -80 per dozen.
The survey noticed that milk is being sold at Rs 100 and Rs 120 litre against the official fixed rate of Rs 80 per litre. Yogurt is being available at Rs 100 and Rs 110 per kg. Good quality black tea is being available at Rs 350 per kg and Rs 400 per kg, green tea at Rs 250 per kg, a one kilogram pack of milk powder at Rs 700 in retail market.