Even though the harvest season has started, the price of potato has been increasing for the last two weeks, reaching close to Tk 100 per kg. The prices of some essentials, including broiler chicken, fish and flour, have also increased further.
The retailers said they do not find any logical reason for the increase in the prices of these products although the supply remains normal. The retail prices are increasing as wholesalers are raising prices, they added.
Consumers said once there was a surplus of potatoes in the country and its price was within the reach of buyers. But despite the start of the new potato season this year, the price has gone beyond the reach of common people.
At various kitchen markets, including Shantinagar, in the capital, new season good quality potato was retailing at Tk 70-80 per kg on Thursday, up by Tk 10 per kg from last week. Potatoes of the same quality were sold at Tk 60-70 per kg last week. These potatoes were sold at Tk 55-60 per kg two weeks ago.
Besides, red potatoes are being sold at Tk 80-90 per kg, which was Tk 70-80 per kg a week ago.
Along with potatoes, the prices of some vegetables, including gourd, cabbage and cauliflower, also increased.
But the prices of some essentials, including onion, green chilli, have decreased. Other vegetables were sold at previous high prices.
According to the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) data, the prices of gourd increased by Tk 10 to Tk 80-100 in the kitchen markets of the capital on Thursday while cauliflower by Tk 10 to Tk 50-60 per piece.
Onion price dropped Tk 20 to Tk 100-150 per kg. Green chilli was sold at Tk 100-140 per kg, which was Tk 140-150 per kg last week.
At retail level, farm chicken eggs were sold at previous high prices of last week, but broiler chicken prices increased further. Eggs are being sold at Tk 43-45 per four pieces. But the price of broiler chicken has increased by Tk 10 per kg in the last one week and is being sold at Tk 185-200 per kg. The price of farm chicken has increased by Tk 20-25 within two weeks.
Along with chicken, the prices of some fish, including rohit and katla and silver carp have also increased.
According to the CAB data, small-sized rohit and katla fish were sold at Tk 300-350 per kg in the retail market on Thursday, up from Tk280-300 per kg last week. Medium-sized rohit and katla were sold at Tk 400-450 per kg on Thursday, up Tk 50 per kg from last week.
The prices of large-sized rohit and katla fish went up by Tk 50 to Tk 550 per kg. The prices of silver carp fish also increased by Tk 30 to Tk 280 per kg.
The price of packet flour has increased earlier and this week the price of loose flour has increased. Loose flour was sold at Tk 48-50 per kg, an increase of Tk 3 per kg. It was Tk 45-50 per kg last week.
Besides, edible oil, rice, pulses and sugar are being sold at higher prices than before.
