Play store
As winter approaches, the supply of seasonal vegetables is increasing in markets across the capital, bringing down prices of some vegetables. Egg prices have also declined as supplies return to normal, offering some relief to consumers after a prolonged period of rising food prices.
However, higher prices of rice, flour, pulses, edible oil and other essential commodities continue to put pressure on household budgets, leaving many families struggling to manage their daily expenses.
A visit to markets in Karwan Bazar, Mohammadpur, New Market and Hazaribagh on Friday morning found that prices of some vegetables had started declining with the arrival of early winter produce. Egg prices have also fallen as supplies have returned to normal.
Vegetable prices vary by quality and market. Brinjal is selling for Tk70–90 per kg, bitter gourd for Tk70–80, local carrots for Tk100–120, snake gourd for Tk60, yardlong beans for Tk70–80 and okra for Tk60.
Sweet pumpkin costs Tk40 per kg, green papaya Tk30, pointed gourd Tk70 and taro corms Tk60.
Tomatoes are selling for Tk160–180 per kg, green chillies for Tk150 and early-season beans for Tk120–140. Bottle gourd and ash gourd are priced at Tk60–80 each, depending on size. Cauliflower and cabbage are selling for around Tk50–60 each.
Better supplies have brought some relief to consumers in the poultry market. Broiler chicken prices have fallen by Tk5–10 per kg from last week, from Tk190 to Tk170–180. Sonali chicken is selling for Tk300–320 per kg, while beef costs Tk800 and mutton Tk1,200 per kg.
Egg prices have also declined. A dozen red farm eggs now costs Tk140, down Tk10 from last week, while a dozen white eggs has fallen from Tk140 to Tk130.
Fish prices, however, remain high. Medium-sized farmed rohu is selling for Tk350–380 per kg, while catla costs Tk300–450. Kalibaus is priced at Tk500–700, farmed pangasius at Tk250–260 and tilapia at Tk250–300 per kg. Medium-sized climbing perch costs Tk200–250.
Local stinging catfish is selling for Tk600–700 per kg, large pabda for Tk400 and shrimp for Tk800–1,000. Prices of other fish, including boal, rupchanda and kajoli, range from Tk700 to Tk1,800 per kg, depending on the variety and size.
Despite the decline in some vegetable and egg prices, rice, flour and other essentials remain costly. Rice prices rose by Tk1–3 per kg around two weeks ago and have yet to come down.
Depending on quality, Nazirshail and Miniket rice are selling for Tk70–90 per kg. Pajam, BRRI-28 and BRRI-29 varieties cost Tk58–65, while coarse rice is priced at Tk50–55 per kg.
Loose flour is selling for Tk48–50 per kg and packaged flour for Tk65–70. According to the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), loose flour prices have risen by 2% over the past month, while packaged flour prices have increased by 8%.
Loose refined flour has risen by 3.7%, while packaged refined flour has increased by 6%. Loose refined flour now costs Tk70 per kg, while packaged varieties sell for Tk85–90.
Chickpea prices have also increased, with a kilogram selling for Tk110–125, compared with Tk100–110 last week. Large-grain lentils cost Tk90–100 per kg, small-grain lentils Tk150–160 and khesari dal Tk60–75.
Local onions are selling for Tk55–60 per kg, local garlic for Tk140–150 and local ginger for Tk150–160. Bottled soybean oil costs Tk210 per litre, while a two-litre bottle sells for Tk410.
Consumers struggle to manage household expenses
Consumers welcomed the lower prices of some vegetables and eggs but said the savings were being offset by higher costs of other essentials.
Rifad Hasan, a private-sector employee who was shopping at Karwan Bazar, told Risingbd that falling vegetable and egg prices had brought some relief. However, he said the continued high prices of rice, flour, pulses and oil meant that the overall cost of household shopping had barely declined.
Tania Akter, a homemaker shopping at Mohammadpur Krishi Market, said families had little choice but to buy daily necessities, even when prices were high. She said the same amount of money now bought fewer items than before, making it difficult to manage monthly expenses.
Vegetable trader Mofidul Islam at Karwan Bazar said prices of some vegetables were falling as seasonal supplies increased. He expected further declines if supplies continued to grow, but noted that wholesale prices and transportation costs also influenced retail prices.
Hasan Sikder, a grocery shopkeeper at New Market, said normal egg supplies had eased pressure on consumers, but wholesale prices of rice, flour, pulses, chickpeas and oil remained high.
He added that some customers were buying smaller quantities or leaving shops without purchasing certain items, affecting sales.
Traders said consumers would feel more substantial relief only if wholesale prices of essential commodities declined and the benefits reached retail markets.
