Prices of essential food items remain sky rocket

PESHAWAR: Prices of essential kitchen items remained ‘sky-high’ during the first 10-days of the holy month of Ramazan.

A survey conducted by Business Recorder here on Sunday, noticed prices of the essential food items including live chicken meat, farm eggs, beef, grocery items, dates, beverages, fresh fruits, vegetables, flour, and sugar have touched new peak in the retail market.

Price of live chicken / meat increased Rs 276 per kilogramme which was selling at Rs 251 a few days ago, showing an increase of Rs26 per kilogramme in the local market, according to the survey.

Fresh milk is being sold at Rs130-140 per litre against the official fixed price of Rs110 per litre, while yogurt was available at Rs90-100 and Rs130-140 per kilogramme in the local market.

Sugar price remained stable in the local market as available at Rs95 per kilogramme against the price of Rs100 per kilogramme in the previous week, while sugar was available at Rs68 per kilogramme in utility stores.

It added that beef is being sold at Rs600-650 and mutton was available at Rs1200-1300 per kilogramme in the local market. A dozen of farm eggs are being sold at Rs170-180 and Rs190, the survey revealed.

Price of different varieties and quality of dates remained high-side in the local market, as available within range of Rs300-400 and Rs500-600 and Rs800 per kilogramme, the survey added.

Similarly, rates of different brands of beverages also remained unchanged in the local market. A manifold increase in prices of fresh fruits was witnessed in the retail market as fruit staple food which demand has been raised up in the holy month of Ramazan.

Apples are being sold at Rs200-250 and Rs300 per kilogramme, bananas are being sold at Rs100-150 and Rs200 per dozen, guava at Rs200 per kilogramme, peach at Rs200 per kilogramme, watermelon at Rs60-80 per kilogramme, muskmelon at Rs200-300 per piece, melon at Rs60 per kilogramme, the survey revealed.

The price of flour remained unchanged in the local market, as a 20 kg fine flour bag was being sold at Rs1300-1400 while mixed flour 20 kg bag was available at Rs1200-1250 in the local market. Maida (fine flour) was being sold at Rs75-80 per kilogramme in the local market.

A mixed trend in vegetable prices was witnessed in the local market. Tomatoes are being sold at Rs60 per kilogram against the Rs80 in the previous week. Onion was available at Rs50-60 per kilogramme. Ginger is being sold at Rs400-450 per kilogramme which was selling at Rs350 per kilogramme in the last week.

Garlic was available within a range of Rs150 per kilogramme in the local market. Green chili is being sold at Rs120 per kilogramme. Lemon was being sold at Rs100-120 per kilogramme. Cucumber was being sold at Rs40 per kilogramme.

Lady-finger is being sold at Rs80 per kilogramme against the price of Rs120, bitter gourds {Karela] peas at Rs150 per kilogramme, arvi at Rs100 per kilogramme, red colored potatoes at Rs50-70 per kilogramme, white-colored potatoes at Rs40 per kilogramme, tori at Rs80 per kilogramme, kado at Rs100 per kilogramme, bringle at Rs50 per KG, cabbage at Rs70 per kilogramme, cauliflower at Rs40 per kilogramme, turnip at Rs50 per kilogramme, French bean at Rs150-200 per kg,

According to the survey, the prices of pulses/food grains remained high-side in the retail market.

It was revealed that good quality rice (sela) was being sold at Rs150-160 per kilogramme, while other qualities were being available within range of Rs120-130 and Rs140 per kg, while tota rice was being sold at Rs70-80 per kilogramme. Prices of cooking oil/ghee were also remained high-side in the retail market.

Likewise, red bean is being sold within range of Rs180 and Rs200-220 per kilogramme, white lobiya at Rs200 per kilogramme, big-size white chana available at Rs140 per kilogramme while small size at Rs120 per kilogramme, mash dal was being sold at Rs260 per kilogramme, dhoti dal at Rs220 per kilogramme, dal masoor at Rs160 per kilogramme.

Dal chilka (green) was available at Rs160 while dal chilka (black) was being sold at Rs220 per kilogramme. Prices of dried fruits also touched a new peak in the retail market, which is unaffordable for a people to buy in this winter season.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2021