KARACHI, May 1: Consumers saw an easing in price hikes last month as prices of most of kitchen items either remained unchanged or fell on improved supplies: the only exceptions were potato, tomato, poultry products and lady finger whose prices recorded an increase.

Retail prices of potatoes rose by one to two rupees to Rs 7-8 per kg as wholesale prices went up to Rs 3.5-4.0 per kg from Rs 2-3 per kg in March. In wholesale markets potato was selling between Rs 150-160 per 40 kg last month up from Rs 100-120 per 40 kg in March as dealers had started piling up supplies from fresh crop into cold storages.

The retail price of live poultry bird moved up to Rs 62 from Rs 60 per kg—thus pushing up the price of poultry meat to Rs 112 from Rs 110 per kg. However, prices of eggs remained unchanged at Rs 23 per dozen.

According to a retail average prices survey of Dawn covering the month of April tomatoes became dearer by Rs 6 per kg to Rs 14 per kg. In March tomatoe was selling for Rs 8 per kg on an average. Some retailers in posh areas were found selling tomatoe for up to Rs 15-16 per kg last month. The increase in retail prices of tomatoe could only be linked to profiteering by shopkeepers as in the wholesale market the vegetable from Sindh crop was selling for Rs 3-6 per kg. The Punjab crop would start coming in this month.

The wholesale price of lady finger surged to Rs 14-15 per kg from Rs 8-10 per kg in the last one month as a result of end of Sindh crop. The commodity was selling at Rs 16 per kg at retail level as compared to Rs 12-14 per kg. Prices were likely to stabilise as Punjab crop is about to start coming in in the current month.

Onion prices showed no change, ranging between Rs 4-5 per kg but some retailers were demanding Rs 6 per kg. In some areas, push cart owners were offering 2.5 kg of onion at Rs 10. A retailer said the price had gone up due to slight increase in wholesale prices to Rs 3.50 per kg from Rs 2-3 per kg. A 40 kg bag of onion was being sold at Rs 120-140. Currently onion from Sindh and some quantity of Balochistan crop was being consumed while the commodity was also being exported to Arab countries.

The price of garlic (arriving from China, Singapore and local crop) and ginger, being imported from Singapore, Indonesia and China, did not show any upward change in prices, thus staying at Rs 30-32 per kg. Their wholesale rates were hovering around Rs 22-26 per kg.

Decline in prices of wheat and flour bags of 80 kg, had one and a half months back, helped in maintaining stability in prices. Fine atta was selling at old level of Rs 11 per kg and atta no. 2.5 did not see any change from Rs 10 per kg.

Mung prices stayed at Rs 30 per kg as its wholesale price saw no change at Rs 24-26 per kg. The wholesale price of mash also held unchanged at Rs 20-22 thus keeping retail prices intact at 26 per kg. Masur (whole and washed) price held unchanged at Rs 30-35 per kg in view of no change in its wholesale price at Rs 26-28 per kg. No change was seen in prices of arhar pulse at Rs 28-30 per kg as its wholesale price had been intact at Rs 25 per kg. The wholesale price of gram pulse (small and big) had remained pegged to Rs 18-21 per kg. However, retailers were demanding Rs 28-30 per kg.

Sugar prices witnessed no change, staying at Rs 19 per kg in many areas. The commodity was available at Rs 17.80 per kg at wholesale markets.

Various varieties of rice had shown no fluctuation in prices. Retail price of Irri-6, which was available at Rs 11 per kg in wholesale, was being retailed at Rs 11-12 per kg. Irri-9 was still selling at Rs 18-19 per kg and its wholesale price was Rs 14 per kg. Basmati Kernal prices stayed between Rs 30-40 per kg.

Chairman Karachi Wholesale Grocers Association (KWGA), Anis Majeed said that the wholesale markets, which had been passing through a dull session after the US attack on Iraq a month back, have started recovering and normal trading between buyers and sellers has started picking up.