ISLAMABAD: Following increase in petrol and diesel rates, the prices of an entire range of essential kitchen items have witnessed an increase during this past week compared to the preceding week, a survey conducted by Business Recorder revealed here on Saturday.
Traders told Business Recorder that vegetable, chicken, fruit, detergent and local brands of ghee/cooking oil have immediately witnessed an increasing trend, and in coming days, prices of all other items will further escalate. They said that within past two weeks prices of various brands of hand-washing soaps were increased, and now after Rs23 per litre increase in high-speed diesel oil, the transportation cost will go up, which will have an impact on the consumer prices of all the goods from edible items to daily use items such as soap, milk, spices, firewood, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG).
Traders told Business Recorder that during ongoing month, the prices of second grade ghee/cooking oil have witnessed third increase, despite a reduction in global market. They said that second grade ghee-cooking oil price per carton has jumped up from Rs2,250 per carton to Rs2,350 per carton during this week.
During the week under review, chicken price has jumped up from Rs6,800 to Rs7,000 per 40 kg, which in retail is being sold at Rs210 per kg against Rs200 per kg, while chicken meat price went up from Rs320 per kg to Rs330 per kg.
The survey observed a further increase in egg prices, which jumped up from Rs115 per dozen to Rs120 per dozen in wholesales market, while in retail, eggs are being sold at Rs130 per dozen against Rs125 per dozen.
During the week under review, prices of majority of the pulses remained stable as moong pulse is being sold at Rs290 per kg, maash is being sold at Rs250-260 per kg, best quality lobia at Rs300 per kg, masoor at Rs160 per kg, chana at Rs135 per kg against Rs150 per kg.
No changes were witnessed in top brands of ghee/cooking oil, tea, spices, powder milk, salt, chillis, turmeric, and other items.
Sugar price during the week under review went slightly up from Rs3,900 per 50kg bag to Rs3,920 per 50kg bag, which is still being sold at Rs85 per kg against Rs84 per kg.
Wheat flour price has reached all time high level at Rs1,050 per 20kg bag, which in retail is being sold at Rs1,075 per 20kg bag, while per kg wheat flour is available at Rs70 per kg. Business Recorder has observed at a number of Utility Stores Corporation (USC) outlets, either sugar, wheat flour, pulses, and other subsidised items are not available or are being sold at escalated prices. The consumers have also complained of shortage of these subsidised items on USC outlets, saying despite the government's provision of multi-billion rupees subsidy to the USC for the supply of below-the-market price sugar, ghee, cooking oil, pulses, and other items to the masses, but majority of the utility stores remain short on stocks.
During the past week, the survey observed an increase in rice prices as best quality Basmati rice price has touched Rs170 per kg against Rs160 per kg, while broken best quality basmati rice are available at Rs100 per kg against Rs90 per kg.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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