A report based on prices collected from 193 retail outlets in 111 districts

ISLAMABAD, November 08: The prices of medicines and medical services went up in October as compared with the preceding month – Disprin (10-tablets), Panadol (10-tablets), urine test (routine examination) and blood sugar test each recording a 1% increase, a Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) report says.

FAFEN monitors who collected data from 193 retail outlets in 111 districts reported increase in prices of 22 commodities with those of 15 going down and 13 remaining unchanged. Statistics showed a decline in fruit and vegetable prices with bananas registering the biggest drop (-17%), followed by dark red apples (-16%) and golden apples (-10%).

Except for onions that saw a 12% price hike, all other vegetables including tomatoes (-11%) and potatoes (-2%) registered decrease for the first time in three months. However, prices of several poultry and meat products shot up – farm eggs (14%), beef (2%) and mutton (1%) but those of chicken meat (-6%) and chicken live (-4%) came down.

Pulses had a similar trend – washed mash and chickpeas up 1% and washed masoor and red beans down 2% each and washed moong pulse (-1%). The price of rice basmati-386 increased 1%.

Among spices and condiments, ginger recorded a sharp increase (38%), followed by garlic (12%) and loose salt powder (5%). Red chili powder and loose turmeric (-4% each) and loose mustard oil (-3%) dropped. 

There was increase in prices of cooked items – a plate of beef up 5% and a cup of hot tea (2%). Other items in this category remained unchanged.

In the kitchen fuels category, kerosene oil’s price rose 2% and that of firewood (1%).