A report based on monitoring of retail outlets in March and April 2013 across Pakistan

ISLAMABAD, 3^rd June 2013: Prices of 23 out of 52 commodities increased, 18 dropped and that of 11 remained unchanged in March as compared to the preceding month. In April, however, 22 commodities registered price increase, another 22 went down and seven did not report any change says a Free and Fair Election (FAFEN) report released on Monday.  

FAFEN governance monitors visited retail outlets in March (193 retail outlets in 113 districts) and April (179 retail outlets in 103 districts) and reported a high increase in the price of onions; 86% during the two month time frame (February- April). Its price increased 29% in March and further went up 44% in April. However other vegetables including potatoes and tomatoes registered 6% and 3% price decrease.

Conversely, increase was registered in prices of all the monitored fruits in April as compared to February; bananas (12%), dark red apples (9%) and golden apples (7%).

Prices of sweeteners including sugar (2%), gur (2%) and desi shaker (3%) also went up. All the monitored rice varieties registered price increase; basmati-386, basmati broken (2% each) and irri-6 (1%).

Poultry products experienced a drop in prices with eggs going down 10%, broiler chicken meat (8%) and broiler chicken live (7%).However, among other meat items, no change was registered in the price of mutton while 1% increase was observed for beef.

Prices of spices and condiments either increased or remained unchanged. The price of garlic went up 6% followed by salt powder (3%) and turmeric (1%) while those of ginger and red chilies powder remained the same. 

On the other hand, prices of most pulses went down. The highest decrease was registered in the price of gram pulse (7%), black gram (5%), washed moong pulse, washed mash pulse and red beans (1% each). The price of white beans remained the same while that of chickpeas (2%) and washed masoor pulse (1%) increased.  

Similarly, price of a cup of hot tea and a plate of beef increased (3% each) while of a plate of beef and dal went down (2% each). No change was observed in the price of plain chapatti despite a decrease in the price of wheat grain (5%) and wheat flour (3%).

Of the observed kitchen fuels, firewood prices went up 1% while LPG and kerosene oil decreased 20% and 1%. The price of LPG went down 14% in March as compared to the preceding month and further decreased 7% in April.

An increase was registered in prices of all the medical tests; blood test complete picture (2%), blood sugar test (2%) and urine test (2%). However, prices of Disprin and Panadol went down 3% and 1%.