Prices of kitchen items show mixed trend; LPG prices continue to remain high

ISLAMABAD: Prices of essential kitchen items witnessed a mixed trend during the past week compared to the preceding week, a survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Saturday revealed.

Business Recorder observed that, following continued reductions in diesel and petrol prices, the rates of most vegetables, cooking oil/ghee, sugar and fruits had started declining in wholesale markets over the past 10 days. Meanwhile, prices of rice, spices, pulses, meat, detergents, bathing soap, tea, milk and cooked food items remained stable during the week.

However, in the absence of an effective monitoring mechanism, Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) prices have remained high, with the commodity being sold at Rs750 per kg, consumers said. The Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has officially fixed the LPG price at Rs270 per kg. However, LPG marketing companies, distributors and retailers are selling the commodity at more than double the official price. In remote areas of Hazara Division, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Malakand Division and the Chitral region, LPG is being sold at Rs700-750 per kg, while in cities such as Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the retail price has also reached Rs750 per kg against the officially notified rate. The price of a domestic LPG cylinder containing 15kg has increased from Rs7,000 to Rs8,600, against the official price of Rs4,200. This reflects that LPG marketing companies, distributors and retailers are overcharging consumers by Rs430-480 per kg and Rs4,600 per 15kg domestic cylinder. Meanwhile, OGRA, along with district authorities, including local representatives, commissioners, deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, tehsildars and magistrates, has miserably failed to enforce official prices in the market.

According to traders, prices of all household items, including food products, detergents, shampoos and formula milk, continued to increase over the past nine months following the Middle East crisis, which led to fuel supply disruptions due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and Bab-el-Mandeb.

Business Recorder observed that vegetable and fruit retailers, as well as public transport operators, including online cab services, Bykea, taxis, minibuses, rickshaws and others, have neither passed on the significant reduction in fuel prices to end consumers nor reduced the prices of edible items.

Traders and consumers said people were currently paying 30-50 percent higher prices for daily-use items due to increased transportation costs, higher electricity and gas bills, and other input costs. They said that although prices of vegetables, fruits and other edible items were regularly declining at the farm and wholesale market levels, retailers and vendors were not passing on the benefits to end consumers. Consumers also questioned that, following the Middle East crisis, which pushed up fuel prices from March 2026, suppliers had increased the prices of almost every household item across the board. However, with petrol prices having declined by around Rs65 per litre and high-speed diesel (HSD) prices by Rs50 per litre, they questioned who would compel suppliers to reduce the prices of school uniforms, notebooks, shoes, school van fares and other daily household essentials.

The survey revealed no change in chicken prices, with chicken remaining stable at Rs15,500 per 40kg in the wholesale market. In the retail market, chicken is being sold at Rs425-440 per kg, while chicken meat is available at Rs600-700 per kg, varying from area to area. Egg prices increased from Rs6,800 to Rs7,720 per carton containing 30 dozen in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, eggs are being sold at Rs272-300 per dozen, against Rs255-270 per dozen previously.

Meat prices remained stable, with normal-quality mutton available at Rs2,750-2,850 per kg and premium-quality mutton at Rs3,100-3,300 per kg. Normal-quality boneless beef is available at Rs1,750 per kg, while normal mixed beef is being sold at Rs1,550 per kg. Prices of various varieties of fish witnessed an upward trend due to a drop in temperature, with different varieties available at Rs750-1,500 per kg, against Rs600-1,200 per kg previously.

Sugar prices remained stable at Rs6,550 per 50kg bag in wholesale markets, while in the retail market, sugar is being sold at Rs150-160 per kg, against the officially fixed rate of Rs139 per kg. Wheat flour prices increased from Rs2,300 to Rs2,370 per 15kg bag in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, the commodity is being sold at Rs2,420 per bag, against Rs2,380 previously. No changes were witnessed in the prices of cooked roti, naan and paratha, with roti available at Rs25, naan at Rs30 and paratha at Rs60-70. Prices of bakery and confectionery items also remained unchanged during the week, with normal-sized bread available at Rs180, small-sized bread at Rs130 and family-sized bread at Rs240.

Prices of cooked food items also remained unchanged, with a plate of cooked lentils/vegetables available at Rs350 at a normal restaurant, a plate of cooked beef at Rs680, chicken at Rs530 and mutton at Rs800. A plate of nihari is available at Rs600. Meanwhile, a cup of tea at most hotels and restaurants is available at Rs80-100, although some restaurant operators are still selling it at Rs50-60 per cup. No changes were witnessed in the prices of spices, with various brands, including Shan, National and Deewan, available at Rs160 per 39-gram pack.

Ghee and cooking oil prices witnessed a mixed trend. The price of B-grade ghee/cooking oil remained unchanged at Rs6,700 per carton containing 16 packs in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, it is being sold at Rs440-450 per 900-gram pack. Meanwhile, prices of premium-quality ghee and cooking oil brands also remained stable, with a 5kg tin of Dalda ghee available at Rs2,950 in the wholesale market, while a 5-litre bottle is being sold at Rs3,100 in the retail market.

Prices of various varieties of rice remained stable. The best-quality Basmati rice is available at Rs11,000 per 40kg in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, it is being sold at Rs330 per kg. Normal-quality Basmati rice is available at Rs10,000 per 40kg wholesale and Rs300 per kg retail, while good-quality broken Basmati rice is available at Rs7,500 per 40kg wholesale and Rs230 per kg retail. Meanwhile, normal-quality broken Basmati rice is available at Rs6,000 per 40kg in the wholesale market, while its retail price ranges from Rs170-200 per kg.

Tea prices witnessed no change, with Lipton Yellow Label remaining stable at Rs2,000 per 900-gram pack, while Supreme, Tapal Danedar and Islamabad Tea were available at Rs1,800 per kg.

The price of turmeric powder remained stable at Rs550 per kg in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, it is being sold at Rs700-850 per kg. Similarly, red chilli powder prices remained unchanged at Rs550 per kg in the wholesale market, while retailers are selling it at Rs750-850 per kg. However, some retailers are charging as much as Rs900-1,000 per kg in the absence of effective monitoring by district authorities.

Prices of various pulses remained stable, with maash pulse available at Rs15,000 per 40kg in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, it is being sold at Rs450-470 per kg. Gram is available at Rs9,500 per 40kg wholesale and Rs260-280 per kg retail, while the best-quality whole gram is available at Rs10,000 per 40kg wholesale and Rs300-320 per kg retail. Various varieties of bean lentils are available at Rs16,000-17,700 per 40kg in the wholesale market, while their retail prices range from Rs440-520 per kg. Moong pulse is available at Rs10,500 per 40kg wholesale and Rs300 per kg retail, while masoor pulse is available at Rs9,000 per 40kg wholesale and Rs280 per kg retail.

Prices of packed milk brands, including MilkPak, Olper’s and others, witnessed no change, with a carton containing one-litre packs available at Rs4,250, while a one-litre pack is being sold at Rs380 in the retail market. The price of a carton containing 250ml packs also remained stable at Rs2,530, while each 250ml pack is being sold at Rs100. Fresh milk prices remained stable at Rs260 per litre, although in some areas, particularly upscale sectors, it is being sold at Rs280-300 per litre. The price of yoghurt also remained unchanged at Rs280 per kg, while in upscale areas; it is being sold at Rs300-330 per kg. Formula milk prices also remained stable, with a 400-gram pack of Nido available at Rs1,100, a 400-gram pack of Lactogen powder milk at Rs1,580 and a 200-gram pack of Nido at Rs580.

Overall, bathing soap prices remained stable, with a family-size pack of Safeguard available at Rs175, while Dettol, Lux, Palmolive and other brands were available at Rs160 per pack. However, prices of detergents, including Ariel, Surf, Brite, Express Power and others, witnessed an increase, rising from Rs600 to Rs620 per kg pack. Since June 2026, detergent prices have increased by Rs90 per kg pack. No changes were observed in shampoo prices, with a small bottle of Lifebuoy available at Rs200 and a 200ml bottle of Sunsilk shampoo at Rs400. Prices of various brands of soft drinks, including Pepsi, Coke, Miranda and others, also remained stable, with a family-size bottle available at Rs230.

Overall, vegetable prices witnessed a declining trend. Potato prices decreased from Rs1,800-3,500 to Rs1,600-3,350 per quintal in the wholesale market, while retailers are selling potatoes at Rs60-70 per kg, against the officially fixed rate of Rs24-56 per kg. Onion prices increased from Rs6,000-13,500 to Rs8,000-14,500 per quintal in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, onions are being sold at Rs180-250 per kg, against the official rate of Rs145-202 per kg. Tomato prices remained stable at Rs2,500 per 15kg basket in the wholesale market, while retailers are selling tomatoes at Rs160-230 per kg, against the officially fixed rate of Rs145-204 per kg.

Ginger prices increased from Rs1,400 to Rs1,450 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, it is being sold at Rs400-500 per kg, against the official rate of Rs339-387 per kg. Prices of various varieties of garlic declined from Rs700-1,800 to Rs600-1,600 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while retailers are selling garlic at Rs250-550 per kg, against the previous rate of Rs300-600 per kg. The officially fixed rate ranges from Rs145-387 per kg.

Capsicum prices declined from Rs800 to Rs700 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, it is being sold at Rs200-220 per kg, against Rs220-240 per kg previously. The officially fixed rate is Rs157-194 per kg.

Prices of various varieties of pumpkin ranged from Rs100-650 per 5kg in the wholesale market, against Rs100-500 previously, while in the retail market, they are being sold at Rs60-200 per kg, against Rs60-180 per kg previously. The officially fixed rate ranges from Rs31-164 per kg.

Prices of various varieties of tinda declined from Rs550-800 to Rs450-750 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, it is being sold at Rs150-200 per kg, against Rs170-230 per kg previously. The officially fixed rate ranges from Rs109-194 per kg. Eggplant prices increased from Rs270 to Rs300 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, it is being sold at Rs80-90 per kg, against the official rate of Rs73-85 per kg.

Cauliflower prices increased from Rs330 to Rs370 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while retailers are selling it at Rs130-150 per kg, against Rs120-130 per kg previously. The officially fixed rate ranges from Rs97-109 per kg. Spinach prices increased from Rs120 to Rs150 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, it is being sold at Rs50-60 per bundle, against the official rate of Rs36-43 per kg. Cabbage prices remained stable at Rs450 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, it is being sold at Rs130-150 per kg, against Rs120-140 per kg previously. The officially fixed rate ranges from Rs109-121 per kg.

Fresh bean prices remained stable at Rs500 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while retailers are selling them at Rs140-160 per kg. The officially fixed rate ranges from Rs121-140 per kg.

Okra prices increased from Rs550 to Rs600 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, it is being sold at Rs160-200 per kg, against Rs140-160 per kg previously. The officially fixed rate ranges from Rs145-169 per kg.

Carrot prices declined from Rs300 to Rs250 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while retailers are selling them at Rs100-130 per kg. The officially fixed rate ranges from Rs61-73 per kg.

Bitter gourd prices remained stable at Rs500 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, it is being sold at Rs140-160 per kg. The officially fixed rate ranges from Rs121-140 per kg.

Green chilli prices remained stable at Rs400 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while retailers are selling them at Rs120-130 per kg, against the officially fixed rate of Rs97-109 per kg.

Taro root prices increased from Rs400 to Rs450 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, they are being sold at Rs150-160 per kg, against Rs140-150 per kg previously. The officially fixed rate ranges from Rs109-121 per kg.

Cucumber prices declined from Rs200 to Rs175 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, they are being sold at Rs75-90 per kg. The officially fixed rate ranges from Rs48-61 per kg. Ridge gourd prices increased from Rs450 to Rs500 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while retailers are selling it at Rs140-160 per kg, against Rs130-150 per kg previously. The officially fixed rate ranges from Rs121-133 per kg. Pea prices declined from Rs1,350 to Rs1,250 per 5kg in the wholesale market, while in the retail market, they are being sold at Rs250-300 per kg, against Rs320-350 per kg previously. The officially fixed rate ranges from Rs194-242 per kg.

Overall, fruit prices witnessed a declining trend. Banana prices decreased from Rs60-170 to Rs55-150 per dozen, while apple prices ranged from Rs120-400 per kg, against Rs150-450 per kg previously. Persimmon prices declined from Rs275-300 to Rs230-250 per kg, while papaya prices decreased from Rs320-350 to Rs250-280 per kg. Pomegranates were available at Rs500-700 per kg, against Rs550-800 per kg previously. Guava prices declined from Rs250-300 to Rs200-250 per kg, while various varieties of grapes were available at Rs250-550 per kg, against Rs300-800 per kg previously. Citrus fruit prices declined from Rs130-150 to Rs100-130 per dozen, while chikoo prices decreased from Rs250-300 to Rs220-250 per kg.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2026