Prices of essential commodities including edible oil, pulses, rice and flour have dropped significantly at kitchen markets in the city over the last three days.
Traders said usually prices tend to shoot up ahead of Ramadan, but this year they have marked a considerable drop.
The price of non-brand edible oil has decreased by Tk 7-12 in the last two weeks while that of brand soya bean oil too came down yesterday.
Five-litre jerry cans of brand soya bean oil were selling at Tk 570 yesterday in wholesale. The price was Tk 590 just a day before.
Distributors of edible oil told The Daily Star yesterday that almost all soya bean oil companies have dropped hints about bringing down the price and some of them have already started distribution at lower prices.
Though the jerry cans still carry the Tk 596 (MRP) price tag, their wholesale price have come down, said one of the distributors.
The prices of pulses have marked a fall of Tk 2-6 per kg in wholesale market. A wholesaler of the city’s Moulvibazar said prices of quality pulses have decreased by Tk 5 a kg in last week.
In wholesale, local varieties of pulses were selling between Tk 86 and Tk 92 a kg yesterday while the price was between Tk 92 and Tk 98 last week. The price of imported bolder pulses ranged between Tk 82 and Tk 84 a kg yesterday in wholesale markets. Last week they cost Tk 87 and Tk 88 a kg.
It would take time for the price drop to have full impact on the retail markets, retailers said, adding that they have already started selling at lower prices.
In wholesale, prices of rice have gone down almost every day in the last week. It has dropped by Tk 70-100 per mound. In retail, rice prices have decreased by Tk 1-2 per kg.
A 74-kg sack of flour and atta were selling at Tk 2,550 and 2,450 in wholesale yesterday. Three days ago, the prices were Tk 2,700 and Tk 2,600. Finer flour was selling at Tk 3,100 a sack while it was Tk 3,200 three days ago.
Traders said lower international prices and adequate supply are the causes for the price fall.
Categories: Bangla, Bangladesh, Bangladesh Economy, Bangladesh News, Daily Bangladesh News, Economy, News
