KARACHI:
Essential food prices showed a mixed trend throughout 2024: some items saw significant fluctuations, while others showed gradual declines.
At the beginning of the year, citizens faced high prices for flour, but by the end of the year, the cost of the staple item came down by Rs 45 per kilogram.
Several other products, including pulses, chickpea flour, sugar and rice, saw gradual price reductions during the year.
However, some food products, such as lentils, ghee and oil, saw considerable price increases.
According to the Wholesale Groceries Association, earlier this year flour was available at Rs 128 per kg, Rs 142 per kg and Rs 150 per kg depending on its quality. However, by the end of the year, prices dropped to Rs 83 per kg, Rs 94 per kg and Rs 105 per kg.
According to the president of the Wholesale Groceries Association, ghee and oil prices skyrocketed in 2024 as they increased by more than Rs 100 per kg/litre.
In the wholesale market, the price of unbranded oil increased from Rs 114 per kg/litre to Rs 480 per kg/litre and the price of branded oil increased from Rs 125 per kg/litre to Rs 550 per kg/litre.
Compared to January, the price of dal mash per kg in December decreased from Rs 70 to Rs 390, while the price of dal masoor reduced from Rs 50 per kg to Rs 250 per kg.
Similarly, the price of chickpea flour dropped from Rs 95 per kg to Rs 240 per kg. Prices of moong increased from Rs 75 per kg to Rs 380 per kg, while daal chana rose from Rs 85 per kg to Rs 320 per kg.
The price of sugar experienced a modest drop across the country. In January 2024, sugar was selling at Rs 133 per kg, which fell from Rs 6 to Rs 127 per kg in December.
Prices of different types of rice also witnessed a downward trend, with the price of basmati rice reaching Rs 386 per kg. The decline in broken basmati rice prices also brought some relief to consumers.
