Commodity prices spike once again
Retail prices in Dhaka’s kitchen markets have spiraled upward once again, delivering a fresh financial blow to consumers already wrestling with persistent inflationary pressures.
Essential kitchen staples ranging from green chilies and farmed eggs to seasonal vegetables have recorded sharp increases over the past week.
The most alarming spike was observed in the price of green chili, which effectively doubled within seven days. High-grade green chilies were retailing between Tk 340 and Tk 400 per kilogram on Thursday, up from Tk 150-220 just a week prior.
According to historical benchmark data from the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB), this represents a massive jump compared to the peak price of Tk 120 per kg recorded during the exact same period last year.
Protein sources offered little relief to price-sensitive buyers. Farm-raised chicken eggs hit Tk 50 for a four-piece unit (hali) at neighborhood grocery stores, while dozen-packs traded around Tk 145.
Market visits showed that the prices of most fish varieties had increased by Tk20-30 per kilogram over the past week. Pangas, often regarded as an affordable fish, was selling at Tk230 per kg, while telapia was priced at Tk260. Rui is being sold at Tk300-450 per kg, pabda at Tk350-400, shrimp at Tk800-900, tengra at Tk700, native koi at Tk700-800 and shoal at Tk700. Prices of vetki, mrigel, baim, shing and poa also increased.
Even at mixed wholesale-retail establishments, prices held firm at Tk 48 per hali. TCB data reveals that egg prices have appreciated by more than 14 percent year-on-year, up from Tk 38-45 recorded twelve months ago.
There has been little respite in the vegetable market, with most produce now selling at around Tk 100 per kg or higher. Long eggplants are priced at Tk 120-150 per kg, round eggplants Tk 180, white eggplants Tk 140, bitter gourds Tk 120-140, yardlong beans Tk 110-130, snake gourds Tk 90-100, and taro corms Tk 80-100 per kg. However, prices of sponge gourds and pointed gourds have eased slightly to Tk 60-80 per kg.
The poultry and staple sectors remained elevated as well. Broiler chicken retailed at Tk 180-190 per kg, while Sonali chicken commanded Tk 320-340.
Essential grains and pulses held steady at elevated tiers medium BR-28 rice sold at Tk 60 per kg and native lentils at Tk 150 per kg. Additionally, packaged flour experienced a Tk 5 per kg uptick over the week.
