Prices depict mixed trend

ISLAMABAD: Prices of the essential kitchen basket showed mixed trend during the current week compared to last week, a survey carried out by Business Recorder showed on Saturday.

In the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, traders told Business Recorder that prices of essential kitchen items increased significantly in September. However, rates of some essential commodities including sugar, ghee, cocking oil and meat registered substantial decrease last week as compared to the previous week. Similarly, prices of vegetables and fruits registered mixed trend in the week under review as compared to the previous week. Decrease in cooking oil/ghee prices was attributed to decline in palm oil prices in the international market.

During the period under review prices of some of food items registered downtrend, including sugar which decreased by Rs 3 per kg and now it is being sold at Rs 70 per kg against Rs 73 last week. Cooking oil/ghee producers like Habib, Sufi, Meezan and Kashmir reduced the price of their product by Rs 5-7 per kg. However, no reduction was registered in Dalda cooking oil/ghee. Similarly, chicken meat was available at Rs 135 per kg last week but now being sold at Rs 125 per kg while live chicken price decreased by Rs 20 per kg. Live chicken was being sold at Rs 150 per kg last week, which is now Rs 130 per kg.

Vegetables and pulses prices registered mixed trend as rates of some vegetables decreased, while others increased. Tomatoes and onions were available at Rs 80 and Rs 50 per kg against Rs 70 and Rs 45 during last week. Price of green chilies increased by Rs 10 per kg and is being sold at Rs 100 per kg against Rs 90 per kg last week; cauliflower is being sold at Rs 60 per kg against Rs 50 per kg last week. Okra is being sold at Rs 80 to 90 against Rs 70 per kg last week, karela, tinda and shimla mirch registered no increase or decrease in prices.

During the week price of dal mash, red beans and dal channa remained unchanged. However, sufaid lobia price registered an increase of Rs 5 per kg. Price of Irri-6 rice went up by Rs 3 per kg while basmati registered an increase of Rs 5 per kg.

The survey further noted that prices of most fruits remained on the high side without significant change during the week under review as compared to the previous. Apples were available at Rs 150-140 and 130 per kg depending on quality but remained unchanged last week. However, mango available at Rs 140 per kg last week is being sold at Rs 160 per kg, banana at Rs 60 per dozen against Rs 70 to 80 per dozen and grapes at Rs 300 per kg against Rs 230 during the week under review as compared to the previous week.

In addition, prices of different essential commodities like flour, rice, tea etc varied from shop to shop in different localities of the twin cities.