Food prices defy fuel cost decline

Retailers sell essential commodities above official rates

LAHORE:

Consumers saw little relief from food inflation this week as retail prices for essential commodities remained well above official rates despite lower petrol and diesel prices, highlighting the widening gap between government price lists and market realities.

Although the district administration continued issuing official price notifications and claiming regular market monitoring, retailers across the city charged prices at will for most vegetables, fruits and poultry.

The trend is particularly significant because it comes after recent reductions in fuel prices, which would normally lower transportation costs and ease retail prices for perishable goods.

Instead, prices of most vegetables, fruits and poultry either increased or remained substantially above official rates, leaving consumers without the expected benefit of lower logistics costs.

The continued mismatch between official and retail prices also points to broader governance challenges.

Poultry prices offered limited relief during the week. Official rates for live chicken fell by Rs25 to Rs274-288 per kg, although the commodity remained largely unavailable at notified prices across the city. Official chicken meat prices dropped by Rs36 per kg to Rs417, but retailers continued to charge between Rs470 and Rs520 per kg. Boneless chicken remained expensive at Rs800-850 per kg.

Most vegetables became costlier during the week. Soft-skin potatoes increased by Rs5 to an official rate of Rs37-40 per kg but retailed for Rs60-80 per kg.

Tomatoes registered one of the sharpest increases, rising by Rs40 to an official price of Rs160-170 per kg, while consumers paid Rs220-280 per kg. Onion prices also rose by Rs5 per kg to Rs85-90 but sold for Rs100-130 per kg.

Among kitchen staples, local garlic increased by Rs5 per kg to Rs130-135 per kg but retailed at Rs180-200 per kg. Chinese garlic was officially priced at Rs320-335 per kg but sold for around Rs500 per kg, while Harani garlic was fixed at Rs235-245 per kg and retailed between Rs320 and Rs400 per kg. Thai ginger also rose by Rs15 per kg to Rs295-310 per kg, with market prices hovering around Rs400-450 per kg.

The gap between official and retail prices persisted across most seasonal vegetables. Farm cucumbers remained fixed at Rs95-100 per kg but sold for Rs140-150 per kg, while local cucumbers officially priced at Rs47-50 per kg retailed at Rs120-130 per kg. Spinach remained fixed at Rs23-25 per kg but retailed between Rs80 and Rs100 per kg.

Ladyfinger prices declined by Rs20 per kg to Rs76-80 per kg but retailed at Rs120-130 per kg. Green chillies rose by Rs10 per kg to Rs105-110 per kg but sold at Rs150-160 per kg.

Cabbage declined by Rs10 per kg to Rs47-50 per kg yet retailed at Rs120-140 per kg. Peas increased by Rs40 per kg to Rs181-190 per kg and fetched Rs450-500 per kg in the market.

Fruit prices also remained well above official rates. Apples were officially priced between Rs105 and Rs380 per kg but sold for Rs250-600 per kg. A-grade bananas were fixed at Rs193-215 per dozen but sold at Rs300-350 per dozen. Dates remained officially priced at Rs360-470 per kg but sold between Rs800 and Rs2,400 per kg.

Different varieties of mangoes were fixed at Rs120-300 per kg but retailed for Rs200-450 per kg. Watermelon officially priced at Rs37-40 per kg sold for Rs70-100 per kg.