Essential items' prices maintain uptrend

Prices of most of the essential kitchen items registered substantial increase during last one month, a survey carried out by Business Recorder showed. According to traders at Rawalpindi/Islamabad wholesale and retail markets, during the past month most of kitchen items, especially vegetables, eggs, bakery items and cooked food items became dearer by 30 to 35 percent.
The most recent increase in petroleum prices are likely to further jack up inflation in the coming days, they opined. The unprecedented floods in Sindh, seasonal effects and worsening supply situation were attributed as major reasons behind the considerable increase in vegetables prices including potatoes, tomatoes, chillies, onion, okra, and fruits.
Survey noted that prices of onions and tomatoes went up by 40 percent and 25 percent respectively, a rise which is seasonal. Tomatoes were available at Rs 45 per kg in August. However, they are now being sold at Rs 70 per kg. Similarly, in August onions were available at Rs 30 per kg and they are now available at Rs 40 per kg. Price of green chillies increased by Rs 10 per kg and are being sold at Rs 100 per kg against Rs 90 per kg in August; cauliflower is being sold at Rs 40 per kg against Rs 30 per kg last month. Okra is being sold at Rs 80 to 90 against Rs 60 per kg last month, karela, tinda and shimla mirch registered an increase of Rs 10 per kg each.
The prices of chapatti plain, desi shakkar, potato and rice basmati-386 increased by Rs 1, Rs 5, Rs 15 and Rs 5 per kg respectively. Prices of salt powder, red chillies powder and ginger increased by Rs 2, Rs 5, Rs 10 respectively and garlic price went up by Rs 20 per kg. Survey observed that the prices of the entire range of pulses also registered increase. Dal mash price increased by Rs 2, red beans by Rs 3 and dal channa by Rs 5 during the month. Similarly price of irri-6 went up by Rs 5 per kg while basmati registered an increase of Rs 7 per kg.
During the month prices of wheat grain and wheat flour went up by Rs 1 per kg, the tandoori chapatti plain registered an increase of Rs 1 in its price. Giving the reasons of increasing tandoori bread price Jahangir Khan a tandoor owner said that the government has increased the price of natural gas and electricity and flour-millers have jacked up the price of wheat flour so increase in tandoor bread price was inevitable.
Prices of cooked items also increased. Price of cooked beef went up by Rs 5 per plate, cooked vegetable plate by Rs 5 and cooked dal plate by Rs 3. Price of a tea cup registered an increase of Rs 2 in September and was priced at Rs 15 against Rs 12 last month.
During the month past substantial increase was witnessed in prices of various fruits. Apples were available at Rs 150 per kg in September against Rs 120 to 130 per kg depending on quality last month, mango at Rs 140 per kg against previous price of Rs 100 per kg, banana at Rs 80 per dozen against Rs 60 to 70 per dozen and grapes at Rs 300 per kg against Rs 230 in August.
During the month under review prices of some of the food items registered decrease, including live chicken by Rs 20 per kg, chicken meat by Rs 30 per kg and some vegetables. Live chicken was being sold at Rs 160 per kg in August, which is now being sold at Rs 140 per kg and chicken meat was being sold at Rs 140 in August, which is now being sold at Rs 120 per kg.