In the kitchen markets of the capital, the recent decline in beef prices has triggered a subsequent decrease in the prices of mutton and chicken.
Over the past week, mutton prices have seen a reduction of Tk 100 per kg, while chicken prices have dropped by Tk 10 per kg at the retail level, as reported by the sellers in the capital's kitchen markets.
Sellers attribute the decline in mutton prices to the parallel reduction in beef prices. Additionally, with the prices of fish and beef also experiencing a decline, the demand for mutton has decreased, contributing to its reduced pricing.
Furthermore, sellers claim that the customary decrease in egg and chicken prices during the winter season has also played a role in the current market scenario.
According to the data from the Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB), mutton is currently priced between Tk 1000-1100 per kg at the retail market, including Santinagar, down from Tk 1000-1200 per kg last week. The price of mutton stood at Tk 1300 per kg just one or two months ago.
At the retail level in the capital's kitchen market, broiler chicken is being sold at Tk 175-180 per kg, down from Tk 180-190 per kg a week ago. The Soanli variety of chicken is priced at Tk 300-320 per kg, a slight decrease from Tk 300-330 per kg the previous week.
Egg prices have seen a modest decrease of Tk 2 per hali (four pieces), settling at Tk 40-45 per hali this week, compared to Tk 42-45 per hali last week. However, the price of beef has remained stable at Tk 600-700 per kg, showing no further reduction this week.
Despite the stable prices of other essentials such as rice, sugar, edible oil, lentils, and flour, the rice market shows variations, ranging from Tk 56-72 per kg at the retail level on Thursday, depending on the variety.
While retailers express anticipation for a decrease in rice prices with the onset of the Aman paddy season, the logical reasons for the current stability remain unclear.
According to the Directorate of Agricultural Marketing (DAM), the wholesale market has witnessed an increase in the price of lentils over the past month. Various quality lentils have experienced an increment of up to Tk 20 per kg. Fine local lentils, previously sold at Tk 120-130 per kg, are now priced at Tk 135-140 per kg in the retail market.
Contrastingly, the price of imported coarse lentils has not seen a significant increase, currently retailing at Tk 110-115 per kg, up from Tk 108-110 per kg.
While the price of onions remains unchanged, the arrival of new-season produce has led to a Tk 5 decrease in the price of potatoes per kg, with local onions selling at Tk 120-130 per kg and potatoes at Tk 45-50 per kg on Thursday at the retail level. Last week, potatoes were priced at Tk 50-55 per kg.
