Prices of essential items show upward trend

The prices of most of the essential kitchen items increased during the week past as compared to the preceding week, revealed a survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Saturday. Traders and wholesalers in different markets of twin cities of Rawalpindi/Islamabad said that prices of different kitchen items including sugar, gur, poultry products, vegetables and some fruits increased substantially last week.
However price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) declined by Rs 5 per kg. The price of all the poultry items increased with chicken by Rs 10 per kg and chicken meat by Rs 5 per kg. Similarly, sugar prices increased by Rs 3 per kg at the Utility stores and are now being sold at Rs 45 instead of Rs 42 per kg last week. However in the open market sugar prices increased by Rs 5 per kg last week.
It is noted that in wholesale market tomatoes are being sold at Rs 70 per kg and onions at Rs 55 per kg against Rs 60 and Rs 50 per kg last week. Green chillies are being sold at Rs 130 per kg against Rs 115-120 per kg last week and cauliflower at Rs 40 per kg against Rs 45 per kg last week. Similarly, garlic and ginger prices increased by Rs 10 and 15 per kg respectively during week under review. Potato prices witnessed a slight decline of Rs 3-5 per kg and are being sold at Rs 20-25 per kg, however arvi prices increased by Rs 5 per kg. Prices of all varieties of rice remained stable during last week.
Broken rice was available at Rs 60-70 per kg in different markets. Similarly, basmati rice depending on its quality was available at Rs 100-120 per kg without any change in prices during the week under review as compared to the last week. Similarly no change was observed in prices of Dal Channa as it was available at Rs 75 per kg, Dal Masoor at Rs 125 per kg, Maash at Rs 150-170 per kg and Dal Moong at Rs 150 per kg.
Fruits prices witnessed a sharp increase as banana was available at Rs 70-80 depending on its quality as compared to Rs 50-60 per dozen last week. Similarly, orange was available at Rs 70-100 per dozen as compared to Rs 60-80 last week. Guava prices increased from Rs 50 to Rs 60 per kg last week. However, apple was being sold at Rs 100-150 depending on its quality without significant change in its price.