A mixed trend in the prices of commodities was noted in the first half of Ramadan, as prices of 26 commodities, including meat, rice, poultry, sweeteners and some kitchen fuel items registered an average increase of five percent, while 20 commodities, including apple, potato, tomato, some pulses and vegetable ghee registered an average decrease of seven percent in Ramadan, compared to their prices on July, 10, 2011.
According to data released by FAFEN, an NGO collected the data over 10 days from 150 localities in 78 districts across the country. The aim was to observe any fluctuation in the prices of 52 staple commodities during Ramadan, a month in which consumption of some of these commodities increases sharply.
The report shows that prices of onions, bananas, chicken, red beans, eggs and Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) went up by 29, 16, nine, eight, seven and seven percent, respectively. However, prices of apples, tomatoes, garlic, potatoes, and vegetable ghee registered a decrease by 39, 33, eight, seven and one percent, respectively.
Seasonal effects were also observed as the tomato harvest from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa led to increased supply in the market, thus decreasing the price of tomatoes by 33 percent in August. Similarly, the harvest of the summer potato crop led to a seven percent price decrease. However, onion prices, which decreased remarkably in the previous months, registered a 29 percent increase over 26 days.
Prices of red beans, chickpeas and black gram increased by eight, five and one percent, respectively, while masoor, white beans, mash and moong registered a five, two, one and one percent decrease in prices, respectively.
Prices of chicken meat and live chicken increased by nine, and seven percent as meat and mutton went up by three and two percent respectively. However, the prices of poultry products and meat items have been on the rise since May this year. Kitchen fuels, including LPG, firewood and kerosene oil, registered an increase of seven, one and one percent respectively. In sweeteners, prices of gur, sugar, and desi shaker registered four, two and one percent increase. Yogurt went up by two percent after milk price registered a one percent increase. With the increase in prices of sweeteners and milk, a cup of tea was dearer by two percent. Among cooking oils, the price of mustard oil increased by two percent, while vegetable ghee registered a decrease of one percent. Spices and condiments, including garlic, turmeric, red chilies, salt powder and ginger registered an eight to one percent decrease in prices in August.