KARACHI, Jan 1: The burden on consumers has intensified in the last one month owing to increase in prices of atta, poultry, ghee and cooking oil and some vegetables. However, some relief came in the shape of decrease or stability in prices of onion, tomato, potato, pulses and sugar.

Atta No. 2.5 and fine atta prices surged to Rs12 per kg as compared to Rs10-11 as a result of increase in wholesale price of wheat. The Ashrafi brand atta of 10-kg bag is now being sold at Rs120 as compared to Rs110, a market survey from December 1 to January 1 reveals.

“I have bought an 80-kg bag of fine atta at Rs880 which was available at Rs750 a month earlier,” a retailer said. The government had cut the wheat bag price in Ramazan to Rs750, from Rs827, but after the month, the price had gone up. On the same date of last year, atta No. 2.5 and fine atta were selling at Rs10 and Rs11.50 per kg.

The price of 16-kg ghee tin is tagged at Rs825 as compared to Rs800 a month back. Even the 16-kg tin of cooking oil is being retailed at Rs925.

The price trend has made the civilian government claim that the prices of ghee, cooking oil and atta would be brought down to provide some relief to the end-users a mere slogan.

Prices of poultry items have been shooting up at a fast pace following increase in demand due to cold weather. The government’s decision of doing away with the ban on serving meals in wedding and valima receptions has further pushed up the demand of poultry products.

Poultry is now selling at Rs60 per kg as compared to Rs54 per kg while its meat can be purchased at Rs110-112 as against Rs95 per kg. Egg price also went up to Rs37 per dozen, from Rs33. Exactly a year back, egg was available at Rs35 per dozen, while poultry bird was selling at Rs62 per kg.

The price of garlic (arriving from China, Singapore and local crop) also rose to Rs40, from Rs36, while the rates of ginger, being imported from Singapore and China, peaked to Rs40 from Rs28. If current price is compared with January 1, 2002, there is some respite for consumers as ginger and garlic were being retailed at Rs60-64 and Rs56 per kg last year.

In pulses, retailers are now playing havoc with prices despite continuous decline in wholesale prices.

“Low consumption, frequent arrival from imports and 2.8 per cent rupee appreciation against the dollar, making imports cheaper, are some main reasons of falling prices at the wholesale levels,” general secretary, Karachi Wholesale Grocers Group (KWGG), Mohammad Shakil said. He said that retailers are still reluctant to pass on the benefit to the consumers.

At wholesale, mash prices (No.1 and 2 qualities) prices have fallen to Rs20-24 per kg, from Rs26-28 but retailers are charging last month’s rate of Rs29 per kg.

In mung (no.1 and 2 qualities), wholesale prices caved in to Rs25 and Rs20 per kg from Rs28-24, but retailers are demanding last month’s rate of Rs28 per kg.

Masur is selling at old rates of Rs28-31 per kg despite drop of Re1 to Rs3 per kg at wholesale level. Arhar is being retailed at Rs28-32 per kg. Prices of gram pulse sank to Rs30, from Rs33, at retail side but not to that extend as the prices had dropped at wholesale levels. At wholesale, gram pulse is selling at Rs21 as compared to Rs27 per kg.

On January 1, 2002, arhar, gram pulse, mung, mash and masur were selling at Rs33, Rs33, Rs28, Rs32-34 and Rs26-28 per kg.

In vegetables, tomato prices plunged to Rs10 per kg, from Rs13-16, following frequent supplies from Sindh’s producing areas. Potato rates fell to Rs8 per kg, from Rs9-12, as a result of persistent arrival from new crop and cold storages. Onion prices remained stable at Rs5 to six owing to better supplies from the Sindh’s new crop. Onion, potato and tomato were available at Rs8, Rs9 and Rs10 per kg a year back.

Sugar prices plunged to Rs18-19 per kg, from Rs22 a month back, as a result of frequent supplies from the mills. At wholesale, sugar is available at Rs17.60 per kg.

Mutton prices are still higher at Rs150-170 and the City Government’s exercise to control prices has virtually failed in the last one and a half months. The price regulators, instead of taking stern action against retailers, are still watching the situation from the sidelines.

Various varieties of rice had depicted a downward drive in prices. Retail price of Irri-6, which was hovering around Rs14-15, was now being retailed at Rs12.50 per kg. Irri-9 was still selling at Rs18 per kg. Basmati Kernal prices nosedived to Rs30-32 per kg, from Rs40-45.

Citrus has made its way into the market with price ranging between Rs25-50 per dozen.