The price of onions showed no signs of decreasing after experiencing a 26.67% monthly hike for the local variant last month, and since the beginning of July, both local and imported variants are selling for Tk50-Tk55 per kg in the retail markets.
However, the price of the imported variants of onion experienced a decline of 9.52% to Tk50 per kg from Tk55 per kg last month, according to state-owned Trading Corporation of Bangladesh’s (TCB) data.
The price of potatoes also experienced a weekly hike of Tk4 per kg to Tk30 which was at Tk26 last week. The third staple also experienced a monthly hike of 23.4% from Tk22 per kg last month.
The prices of rice, lentils and flour remain unchanged in the kitchen market but are still too high for the middle and lower-income groups, as noted in several kitchen markets, including Karwan Bazar.
The price of finer variants of rice (miniket/nazir) is being sold at Tk75-Tk78 per kg as of July 16, which was Tk80 last week, said the TCB data.
The paizam and lata variants are being sold at Tk58 per kg, which was Tk60 last week and Tk62 last month.
The price of coarse variant, on which the middle and lower-income groups rely primarily remained unchanged from last month and is being sold at Tk52 per kg,
Loose wheat flour (atta) is being sold at Tk42 per kg whereas packed ones are sold at Tk54 per kg in the local market.
Loose all purpose flour (maida) was seen being sold at Tk60 per kg, whereas the packed flour was being sold at Tk70 per kg in various kitchen markets of the capital.
Cooking oil and palm oil are being sold in the market at the latest government fixed prices; loose cooking oil at Tk180 per litre, 1-litre bottles are priced at Tk200 and 5-litre bottles at Tk980.
Loose palm oil and super palm oil are sold at Tk150 and Tk165 per litre respectively.
Meanwhile, the prices of cooking oil and palm oil have fallen in the global market significantly by 32% and 48% respectively.
Due to the impact of the global market, the price of loose cooking oil in the wholesale and retail markets has decreased slightly, but the price of bottled oil has not yet decreased in that way.
However, vegetable prices have come down compared to the last few weeks due to adequate supply in the market.
According to the information from some kitchen markets in the capital, green chili is now being sold at Tk120 to Tk140 per kg which was at Tk240 per kg two-three days ago.
The price of cucumber has also taken a dip as it is being sold at Tk50-Tk60 per kg now, which was at Tk120 before Eid.
Moreover, bitter gourd is being sold at Tk40 per kg, decreasing from Tk60. Papaya is being sold at Tk20 per kg, lady’s finger at Tk25, and kakrol at Tk30.
Brinjal is being sold at Tk50 per kg which was previously Tk70-Tk80, and patal at Tk30 per kg.
Lemons are being sold at Tk40 per dozen and four pieces of green bananas at Tk20.
The price of jhinge, chichinga, dhundal and other vegetables also experienced a decline of Tk10-Tk30 per unit, according to market insiders.
From the Shah Ali kitchen market gate, Mozammel Haque, a resident of Paikpara area, said that the vegetable prices were going out of the grasp of low and middle-income people for a few days but are now becoming cheaper.
“In a single word, the situation of the market was miserable for a few days. However, today I feel a little better though the prices are still too high for the low and middle-income people,” he added.
Rafique, a vegetable seller, said that the prices of all kinds of vegetables have already decreased due to the adequate supply in the market and will decrease further.
Prices of various types of fish remained unchanged due to adequate supply. However, the prices of broiler chickens have increased in the capital's kitchen markets to Tk160 per kg from last week’s Tk145-Tk150 per kg.
The Pakistani variant, or Sonali chicken is being sold at Tk330-Tk350 per kg, and the local variant chicken is being sold at Tk550 per kg.
Usually, the prices of beef and mutton are slightly lower after Eid al-Adha, but this year the price of beef and mutton increased by Tk50 per kg to Tk700 and Tk1000 per kg, respectively.
According to the vendors, most of the farms sold their cattle as sacrificial animals on the occasion of Eid, which caused prices to increase thanks to low supply.