Prices of most essential kitchen items witness decline

The prices of most of essential kitchen items, other than tomatoes, tea and chicken, witnessed a decline during the past week as compared to the preceding week, reveals a survey carried out by Business Recorder here on Saturday. According to the survey, prices of tomatoes registered a further hike. Traders in the wholesale market attributed the hike towards damages to standing crop in parts of Sindh, besides a delay in arrival of commodity from district Larkana as one of the reasons behind the skyrocketing price of tomatoes.
Traders said that at present imported tomatoes from India are available and the upward trend will continue for another 10 days till tomatoes from Larkana arrive in the market. Tomatoes in the retail market are being sold in the range of Rs 175-200 against Rs 150 per kg.
Traders also said that the suppliers of branded tea have increased the price of their products by Rs 70 per kg as one pack of Lipton Yellow Label and Lipton Supreme per kg is available at Rs 840 against Rs 770 per pack. During the week under review, chicken prices witnessed a further increase in the wholesale market from Rs 6,000 to Rs 6,400 per 40-kg; live chicken is available at Rs 180 against Rs 170 per kg in the retail market. Chicken meat is being available at Rs 320 against Rs 300 per kg. Egg prices remained stable at Rs 72 per dozen and these are being sold at Rs 84 per dozen in the retail market. Sugar price has reduced from Rs 3,100 bag to Rs 2,900 per 50kg bag and it is being sold at Rs 63 against Rs 67-70 per kg in the retail market.
While no change was observed in the price of wheat flour as a bag of 20kg of normal quality of wheat flour is being available at Rs 750. One quintal of potatoes in the wholesale market is being available at Rs 2,350, while one quintal of onions at Rs 2,750, ginger is being available at Rs 400 against Rs 600 per 5kg, best quality local garlic is available at Rs 1,100 against Rs 1,200 per 5kg, while Chinese garlic is being available at Rs 1,200 per 5kg against Rs 1,350 per kg.
In the retail market, onions are being sold at Rs 40 per kg, good quality potatoes are being sold at Rs 35 against Rs 30 per kg and its normal quality is being available at Rs 30 per kg. Ginger in the retail market is being sold at Rs 100 against Rs 140 per kg, Chinese garlic at Rs 300 against Rs 320 per kg, local garlic is being sold at Rs 250 per kg, lemon price was found stable at Rs 400 per 5kg and it is being sold at Rs 100 per kg in the retail market.
Prices of all major pulses were found stable as Maash is being sold at Rs 160 per kg, Channa at Rs 170 per kg, lobia at Rs 100-120 per kg, Moong at Rs 120 per kg, Masoor at Rs 110 per kg. Likewise, rice price also remained stable as best quality Basmati rice is being available at Rs 120 per kg and normal quality at Rs 70 per kg.
Good quality fresh milk is available at Rs 100 per litre and normal quality of milk is being sold at Rs 85 per litre, while fresh yogurt is being sold at Rs 100-120 per kg.
Brinjal price reduced from Rs 180 to Rs 130 per 5kg in the wholesale market and it is being available at Rs 35 against Rs 45 per kg in the retail market, carrot went up from Rs 180 to Rs 200 per kg, which in the retail market is still being sold at Rs 45 per kg, cucumber price reduced from Rs 100 to Rs 80 per 5kg, which in retail market is being sold at Rs 25 against Rs 30 per kg. One pack of radish weighing 8kg is being available at Rs 100 in the wholesale market and it is being available at Rs 15 per kg in the retail market.
According to the survey, okra price reduced from Rs 650 to Rs 550 per 5kg and it is being sold at Rs 130 against Rs 150 per kg in the retail market, peas price went up from Rs 230 to Rs 270 per 5kg and it is being sold at Rs 65 against Rs 60 per kg in the retail market, apple gourd (tinda) is being available at Rs 150 per 5kg and it is being sold at Rs 40 per kg in the retail market, Maro Kadu at Rs 150 per 5kg and Kadu at Rs 200 per 5kg in the wholesales market while Maro Kadu is being sold at Rs 40 per kg and Kadu at Rs 45 per kg in the retail market, bitter gourd (karaila) price remained stable at Rs 800 per 5kg and it is being sold at Rs 200 per kg in the retail market, arvi is being available at Rs 350 per 5kg and is being sold at Rs 80 per kg in the retail market.
Cauliflower prices was registered at Rs 160 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 40 per kg, and cabbage price remained at Rs 100 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 30 per kg. Capsicum price went down from Rs 350 to Rs 150 per 5kg which in retail is being sold at Rs 40 per kg against Rs 80 per kg, beans price went down from Rs 270 to Rs 250 per 5kg and is being sold at Rs 60 per kg in the retail market.
The survey observed that the prices of all range of fruits are stable in the market as Iranian apple is being sold at Rs 170 per kg, Chinese apple at Rs 200 per kg, local best quality apple Kala Kolu at Rs 140 per kg, golden apple at Rs 120 per kg and normal quality Ambri apple at Rs 80 per kg. Best quality Indian banana is being sold at Rs 150 per dozen, normal quality of banana at Rs 120 per dozen, best quality local banana at Rs 110 per dozen while its normal quality is available at Rs 60 per dozen. Best quality guava is being sold at Rs 100 per kg, while normal quality at Rs 70 per kg. Different qualities of oranges are being available in the range of Rs 50-190 per dozen. Best quality melons are being sold at Rs 70 per kg and strawberry at Rs 250 per kg.