Edible prices show mixed trend

Flour prices drop, but ghee, oil and lentils see sharp hikes

KARACHI:

The prices of essential food items showed a mixed trend throughout 2024, with some items seeing significant price fluctuations, while others showed gradual declines.

At the start of the year, citizens faced steep prices for flour, but by year-end, the cost of the staple item dropped by Rs45 per kilogram.

Several other items, including pulses, gram flour, sugar, and rice, experienced gradual price reductions during the year.

However, certain food items, such as lentils, ghee and oil, witnessed considerable price hikes.

According to the Wholesale Grocers Association, flour was available at Rs128 per kg, Rs142 per kg and Rs150 per kg as per its quality at the beginning of the year. However, at the end of the year, the prices went down to Rs83 per kg, Rs94 per kg and Rs105 per kg.

According to the Wholesale Grocers Association chairman, the prices of ghee and oil skyrocketed in 2024 as they increased by more than Rs100 per kg/litre.

In the wholesale market, the price of unbranded oil increased by Rs114 per kg/litre to Rs480 per kg/litre and the price of branded oil increased by Rs125 per kg/litre to Rs550 per kg/litre.

Compared to January, the price of dal mash per kg in December decreased by Rs70 to Rs390, while the price of dal masoor slashed by Rs50 per kg to Rs250 per kg.

Similarly, the price of gram flour went down by Rs95 per kg to Rs240 per kg. The prices of moong rose by Rs75 per kg to Rs380 per kg, while daal chana jumped up by Rs85 per kg to Rs320 per kg.

The price of sugar saw a modest decline across the country. In January 2024, sugar was being sold at Rs133 per kg, which went down by Rs6 to Rs127 per kg in December.

The prices of different kinds of rice also saw a declining trend, with the price of basmati rice reaching at Rs386 per kg. The decrease in the prices of broken basmati rice also brought some relief to consumers.