KARACHI, Sept 2: Except for increase in price of atta, masur pulse and tomato, the last month has proved a bit mild for consumers as prices of kitchen items have either dropped or remained pegged to their old tags due to frequent supply from producing areas, thin demand and imports.

A random market survey (from August 1 to September 1) shows an increase of Re1 to Rs2 per kg in various varieties of atta.

Atta No. 2.5 price has increased to Rs11-12 per kg from Rs9- 10 per kg last month, while fine atta price has gone up to Rs12 per kg from Rs10-11 per kg.

A 10-kg bag of Ashrafi brand atta now costs Rs115 per bag as compared to Rs105 per bag. In some posh areas, retailers are selling it at Rs120.

Retailers in various areas simply attribute the price hike to increase in wheat rates to Rs810-850 per 100 kg in Sindh, showing a rise of Rs100.

In pulses, the wholesale price of masur, arriving from Iran and Australia, has surged to Rs2,500-3,000 per 100 kg bag from Rs2,200-2,600 per 100 kg bag in the last one month, said general secretary, Karachi Wholesale Grocers Group (KWGG), Mohammad Shakil.

As a result of this, the retail price of masur has gone up to Rs34 per kg from Rs28-30 per kg.

Tomato price has shown a rise to Rs12 per kg from Rs8-10 per kg despite the fact that its wholesale price is still intact at last month’s level of Rs8-10 per kg. The commodity is arriving from Balochistan.

Onion prices have not changed from its last month’s rate of Rs11-12 per kg, while its average quality is being retailed at Rs10 per kg. In the middle of August, onion prices had surged to Rs13-14 per kg.

According to the president, Falahi Anjuman, Wholesale Vegetable Market, Super Highway, Haji Shahjehan, the wholesale price of onion has gone up to Rs10-11 per kg as compared to Rs9-9.50 per kg last month but thin demand of buyers has somehow kept the retailers from enhancing price as it may lead to lower sales.

Onion prices had already moved up to Rs11-12 per kg from Rs10 per kg on August 1.

He said onion price is expected to stabilize after one month when the new Sindh crop finds its way into the market. The province is currently consuming Balochistan crop, while Punjab is depending on the supplies from various parts of Balochistan. Some dealers are picking up onion from the market for export to Sri Lanka.

No change has been witnessed in the price of potato, maintaining at Rs 8-10 per kg following frequent supplies from Punjab’s cold storages. Its wholesale prices hover between Rs6-8 per kg. The new crop of Punjab will hit the market in December.

Prices of ginger and garlic have not depicted any change, both selling at last month’s level of Rs40 per kg due to persistent arrival from imports and local crop. These two varieties of greens, which usually arrive from China and Singapore besides from local crop, are available at Rs20-25 per kg at wholesale market.

Egg price has dropped to Rs28 per dozen from Rs30 per dozen despite slight increase in demand owing to rains in the city last week. A drop of Rs10 per kg has been seen in price of live poultry bird in the last one month, selling at Rs48 per kg as compared to Rs58 per kg. As a result of this, poultry meat price has also caved in to Rs85 per kg from Rs100 per kg.

In rice, according to Mohammad Shakil of KWGG, various varieties have been still under pressure since the last one month due to shortage in the markets. The retail price of Irri-6 still hovers at last month’s level of Rs14-15. Its wholesale price had gone up to Rs10.25 per kg from Rs9.75 per kg.

Irri-9 is still now being retailed at Rs20-22 per kg. Its wholesale price is Rs14 per kg.

Retailers say that both Irri varieties are facing acute shortage in the markets since last one month. Basmati Kernal is selling at higher rates of Rs45 per kg. The minimum price of basmati is quoted at Rs22-30 per kg, while the lowest quality is being sold at Rs 18-20 per kg.

Sugar price has dropped to Rs22 per kg from Rs23 per kg. However, according to wholesalers, its price has again come under pressure, rising to Rs2,110-2,140 per 100 kg bag, showing a rise of Rs70 per 100 kg bag. Wholesalers said that millers are selling lesser stocks in the markets.

Gram pulse (from Ethiopia) price has remained unchanged at Rs30-35 per kg while mung from local crop is being retailed at Rs30-32 per kg. Mash, arriving from Burma, is selling at Rs30-35 per kg. Arhar prices are held unchanged at Rs28-30 per kg.

In fruits, golden apple from Quetta has found its way in the markets with prices ranging between Rs30-40 per kg. Its wholesale price is Rs15-20 per kg.