Rising fuel rates drive up prices of essential kitchen items

Business Recorder's weekly market survey in Peshawar found a sharp rise in the prices of key household food items on Sunday, with several staples reaching new highs. Retailers and shopkeepers in the provincial capital linked the increases to ongoing swings in fuel rates, while buyers said costs had moved beyond what they could afford.

Live chicken climbed to Rs380 per kg from Rs350 a week earlier, while a dozen farm eggs rose to Rs260 from Rs240. Boneless cow meat was reported at Rs1350 per kg, well above the official Rs900 rate set by local authorities. Onion jumped to Rs200-250 per kg from Rs80-100, whereas sugar held at Rs150 per kg and tomatoes eased to Rs100-150 from Rs200.

Wholesale prices of the 80-kg sack rose to Rs14000 from Rs13000, while cooking oil and ghee brands continued an upward trend. Pulses were unchanged in retail, with dal mash at Rs480 per kg and good quality rice at Rs360 per kg, while LPG fetched Rs450 per kilo in the open market. Apples were priced at Rs400-500 per kg and lychee at Rs1000 per kg, with fruit prices described as sharply higher.