Commodity prices register fluctuating trends this Ramadan

Prices of 28 commodities went up by two percent, while 13 decreased by four percent mid-Ramadan, as compared to the early days of the holy month, said a FAFEN monitoring report on Monday.
FAFEN usually collects prices of the observed consumer commodities on the 10th of every month. However, to assess how prices changed during Ramadan, data was collected from the designated retail outlets in 171 towns of 93 districts across Pakistan on August 6 and August 18.
The report said although an increase in prices had not been noted for a great number of commodities, the decrease in the prices of the 13 commodities was overall greater at four percent, adding that the field data did not necessarily reinforce the impression of extraordinary price fluctuations in Ramadan. The commodities that registered a price increase included bananas (seven percent), plain chapattis (five percent), black gram (four percent), sugar (four percent), Liquid Petroleum Gas (two percent), mutton (one percent), and yoghurt (one percent), while commodities registering a decrease included tomatoes (14 percent), golden apples (10 percent), Disprin (five percent), live chicken (three percent), garlic (two percent) and potatoes (two percent).
Seasonal effect was also observed in the price of tomatoes which decreased by 14 percent. The decrease in the price of tomatoes was attributed to its harvest across the country. The harvest of the summer crop of potatoes led to a further two percent decrease in its price. The price of onions went up by one percent during the observed time period.
Basmati broken and Basmati-386 each registered a three percent increase, while the price of Irri-6 went down by one percent. The price of plain chapatti and one of its inputs, wheat grain, went up by five percent and two percent, respectively. However, the wheat flour price went down by two percent. Mutton and beef prices went up by one percent each. However, in poultry, the prices of live broiler chicken and broiler chicken meat decreased by three and two percent, respectively.
Black gram, gram pulse, chickpeas and masoor registered increases of four, two, one and one percent, respectively, and only white beans registered a two percent price decrease. Prices of salt powder and red chillies went up by two and one percent, respectively. In condiments, garlic and turmeric experienced a decrease of two percent and one percent in their respective prices.
Kerosene oil and vegetable ghee each registered one percent increase, while the price of mustard oil decreased by one percent. Prices of all observed sweeteners – sugar, gur and desi shaker – increased by four, one and one percent, respectively. Fresh milk registered a two percent increase in its price that led to a one percent increase in the price of yoghurt and a similar increase in the price of a prepared cup of tea.