Prices of vegetables and fruit up

ISLAMABAD, August 10: Prices of the observed vegetables increased in July as compared to the preceding month with onions registering a hike of 25% and tomatoes 21% as sowing of these two crops began in the monitored period, says a Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) report.

FAFEN monitors observed prices of 52 commodities and services at 194 retail outlets in 107 districts across Pakistan. The data shows that compared to June, the prices of 24 commodities went up in July while those of 18 fell and nine remained unchanged.

The report released on Friday said the price of potatoes also increased by 7%. 

Fruit too saw a price hike – golden apples up 14%, followed by dark red apples (8%) and bananas (7%).

Among poultry and meat, the price of live chicken saw the highest price increase of 26% and that of chicken meat by 23%. On the other hand there was a 2% and 1% increase in respective prices of beef and mutton.

The prices of all pulses either dropped or remained unchanged. White beans and chickpeas had the biggest drop of 3% each, followed by gram pulse and washed moong pulse (2% each) and washed mash pulse and washed masoor pulse (1% each). There was however, no change in the prices of white grain, red beans and black gram.

Of the rice varieties, the price of irri-6 fell 2% while that of basmati-386 and basmati broken went up by 3% and 1%.

Similarly, among spices and condiments, garlic and ginger registered a 10% and 5% increase in prices while those of red chilli powder (2%) and salt powder and turmeric (1% each) fell.

A drop in prices of sugar and desi shaker (1% each) was also recorded. However, gur saw no change.

Branded cooking oil and ghee were up 1% each but mustard oil did not see any change.  Among kitchen fuels, the prices of kerosene oil and LPG decreased by 5% and 4%.