‍Prices of vital food items exhibit a varied pattern.‍

Explore the fluctuating trends in essential food prices, revealing a dynamic market landscape influenced by factors like supply, demand, weather, and trade. Understanding these patterns is crucial for consumers, businesses, and policymakers to manage budgets, ensure food security, and stabilize economies. Staying informed enables strategic decision-making to navigate risks and capitalize on opportunities in this ever-changing environment.

PESHAWAR: In the retail market, there's a mixed trend observed in the prices of essential food commodities. According to a weekly-market survey conducted by Business Recorder on Sunday, vegetable, fruit, flour, sugar, and egg prices remained high, except for live chicken/meat. The survey indicated that ginger was priced at Rs800 per kilo, with Chinese garlic at the same rate and locally-produced garlic at Rs600 per kilogram. Onions were priced at Rs150 per kilo, while Tajikistan onions were available for Rs100 per kilo. Tomatoes were reasonably priced, ranging from Rs70 to Rs100 per kilo.

According to the survey, peas were priced at Rs200, capsicum at Rs200 per kilo, ladyfinger at Rs150 per kilo, and curry at Rs60 per kilo. Aditionally, Kachalu ranged from Rs150 to Rs200 per kilo, turnip at Rs80 to Rs100 per kilo, eggplant at Rs100 per kilo, zucchini at Rs80 to Rs100 per kilo, and Tinda at Rs100 per kilo. Lemons were being sold at Rs200 per kilo. Arvi was available at Rs200 per kilo, Karela at Rs100 to Rs120 per kilo, green chilly at Rs150 per kilo, cabbage at Rs100 per kilo, and red-colored potatoes at Rs80 to Rs100 per kilo, with white-colored potatoes priced at Rs70 per kilo.

Moreover, the price of live chicken dropped to Rs295 per kilo from Rs330 per kilo in the open market. Farm eggs remained unchanged at Rs280 per dozen in the retail market. Cow meat without bone was priced at Rs950 per kilo and with bone at Rs850 per kilo, while mutton beef ranged from Rs2200 to Rs2400 per kilo, according to the survey.

Similarly, the price of flour remained steady, with no further decreases noted in both the retail and wholesale markets. A 20-kilogram sack was priced at Rs1700, while an 80-kilogram sack was available at Rs8000, as per the survey. Additionally, the district administration increased the weight of Roti from 100 grams to 150 grams, priced at Rs15, and from 200 grams to 250 grams, available at Rs30.

Moreover, the survey indicated that prices of pulses and food grains remained unchanged in the local market. Good quality rice (sela) was priced at Rs340 per kilo, low-quality rice at Rs320 per kilo, and tota rice at Rs180 to Rs200 per kilo.

Furthermore, the survey detailed prices of various pulses: dal mash at Rs540 per kilo, dal masoor at Rs320 per kilo, dal chilka (black) at Rs320 per kilo, dal chilka (green) at Rs260 per kilo, moonge at Rs280 per kilo, dhoti dal at Rs300 per kilo, dal Channa at Rs280 per kilo, white lobiya at Rs450 per kilo, red bean at Rs440 per kilo, Gram flour (baisen) at Rs280 per kilo, big-size white Channa at Rs360 per kilo, and small-size white Channa starting from Rs300 per kilo.

The survey revealed that sugar was priced at Rs144 per kilo in the retail market, slightly lower than the standard rate of Rs150 per kilo.

Moreover, prices of confectionery items, beverages, baby milk, milk powder, and diapers remained high in the local market.

Additionally, apples were available at Rs200 to Rs250 per kilo, bananas at Rs100 to Rs150 per kilo or Rs200 per dozen, strawberries at Rs200 to Rs300 per kilo, melons at Rs100 to Rs120 per kilo, and watermelons at Rs70 per kilo.

Furthermore, according to the survey, prices of all brands and qualities of beverages remained elevated in the local market, with black tea being sold at Rs1400 to Rs1500 per kilo.

Source: brecorder‍