Official food price reductions prove ineffective
Despite weekly notifications showing reduction of the prices of some vegetables and marginal adjustments in staples, consumers continued to face inflated prices for poultry, fruits and most vegetables, highlighting a largely dysfunctional retail pricing system.
Market observers say the issue extends beyond supply disruptions or seasonal volatility to a failure in price governance. Retailers continued to set prices freely, rendering government price lists ineffective. As a result, households already strained by high energy costs and stagnant incomes remain exposed to food inflation.
Live chicken prices rose by Rs8 per kilogramme to an official range of Rs397-411 per kg, yet the commodity was largely unavailable at these rates. Chicken meat followed a similar pattern: despite an official increase of Rs11 to Rs595 per kg, retail prices ranged from Rs640 to Rs720 per kg, while boneless chicken hovered near Rs1,000 per kg.
A similar disconnect was evident across vegetables, where official reductions offered little tangible relief. Soft-skin new potatoes were fixed at Rs22-25 per kg after a Rs2 cut, but retailers charged between Rs50 and Rs70 per kg.
Tomato prices were officially reduced by Rs15 to Rs60-65 per kg, yet market rates remained sharply higher at Rs100-150 per kg.
Onion prices increased by Rs8 per kg to Rs55-60, while retail prices climbed to as much as Rs100 per kg in several localities.
Among other vegetables, local garlic remained officially priced at Rs152-160 per kg but sold for up to Rs250 per kg.
Harnai garlic fell by Rs20 to Rs285-300 per kg, yet continued to retail near Rs400, while Chinese garlic stayed fixed at Rs435-455 per kg and sold at around Rs600.
Prices of both Thai and Chinese ginger declined by Rs15 to Rs275-305 per kg, though retail rates ranged between Rs400 and Rs450.
Spinach provided limited relief, with official rates reduced to Rs18-20 per kg, though consumers paid Rs40-60.
Mustard leaves saw a modest increase and retailed at Rs50-60 per kg.
Fruit prices showed similarly mixed trends.
Apple prices rose by Rs5 per kg to an official range of Rs205-400, but retail rates stretched from Rs300 to Rs600 depending on quality. Banana prices dipped slightly to Rs135-150 per dozen, though consumers paid Rs150-250.
Guava prices rose to Rs129-135 per kg.
Pomegranate prices saw official reductions that failed to fully translate in markets, while kinnow prices climbed, reaching up to Rs400 per dozen.