Prices lower, Customers absent

Shopkeepers say the price of most vegetables had declined by about 30 to 40 per cent.

LAHORE: The price of vegetables, fruits and chicken went down in the Sunday Bazaars yet the number of shoppers also decreased.

Shopkeepers said the price of most vegetables had declined by about 30 to 40 per cent.

Onions were sold between Rs26 to Rs 30 per kilogramme (kg). Previously, onions were sold at Rs20 to Rs56 per keg. The price of potatoes remained stable. New potatoes were sold at Rs26 to Rs30 per kg while stored potatoes were available for Rs18 to Rs21 per kg.

The price of tomatoes went up by Rs 8 per kg. Tomatoes were, previously, sold at Rs32 to Rs36 per kg. This week tomatoes were available for Rs40 to Rs44 per kg.  The price of garlic remained stable and it was available for Rs188 to Rs192 per kg. Bananas were sold at Rs20 per dozen while previously bananas were sold for Rs23 to Rs38 per dozen. Apples were now being sold at Rs33 to Rs62 per kg while last week they were available at Rs35 to Rs65 per kg.

The price of chicken decreased by Rs17 per kg.  Chicken was sold for Rs183 per kg. Last week, chicken was sold at Rs200 to Rs250 per kg. The increase in price last week was due to the tussle between the City District Government Lahore and the Poultry Association, which the consumers paid for, some vendors pointed out. “Customers had to buy expensive meat but now the price has come down again,” said Haider Ali, a vendor at the Wapda Town Sunday Bazaar.

Ali said that even though prices had decreased the customer turn out was low. He said that more customers would show up next week.

Buyers are pleased about the downswing in prices. “Last week I bought onions for Rs40 but this week the price has come down,” said buyer Khadija Batool.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 27^th, 2010.