Drop in retail prices of essentials

The retail prices of many essential commodities have gone down from the previous month despite the hike in fuel prices, market sources said.

They attributed the fact to adequate food stocks in the local market at present.

The wholesale price of these food items too remained low with ample stocks arriving through the Colombo port. Supplies to the North too remained constant through the Jaffna port, sources said.

Authorities said that attempts by certain elements to confuse consumers by spreading rumours that there would be a shortage of stocks and prices would increase considerably were misleading and were being done with petty intent.

The comparison of daily average retail prices of some essential food items in the Pettah market reveals that in comparison to last month the prices have gone down.

Samba rice which fetched an average price of Rs.69 per kilo in January has gone down to 68, a kilo of Nadu rice which was sold in January for Rs.59 (average) is sold at Rs. 57 at present.

Raw rice has reduced from Rs.54 in January to Rs.51 at present while red raw has come down from Rs.55 to Rs.53.

The average price of a kilo of dried chillies has gone down from Rs.249 in January to Rs.231.

The average price of dhal which remained at Rs.119 in January is currently sold at a rate between Rs.112- 115. Potato(local) has come down from Rs.119 to 117 while Potato (imported) has gone down from Rs.68 to Rs.64.

Big onions which fetched an average price of Rs.75 in January has come down to Rs.69 and red onions have gone down from Rs.124 to Rs.100.

The prices of a number of vegetables too have gone down in comparison to the average prices in January in the Pettah market.