The Consumer Basket Returns to 100 Leva: Analysis of Prices for Basic Foods

The consumer basket decreased by 1 lev last week and returned to 100 leva, reported the chairman of the DKSTB, Vladimir Ivanov. There is no clearly defined trend of decrease or increase in the prices of basic food products. According to Ivanov, the market fluctuations are due to seasonal factors and the unusually warm weather.

Wholesale price changes:

• Vegetables and fruits: Decreases for tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, cabbage, carrots, red peppers, zucchini, lemon, banana, orange, grapes and apples. Increase for potatoes and peppers.
• Basic food products: Price increases for flour, kashkaval, fresh milk, butter and eggs. Decreases for cheese, yogurt, oil, pork, chicken, rice, beans and sugar.

Ivanov emphasized that there are no unusual influences on the market, except for seasonal factors. He also dismissed speculations about a rise in the consumer basket due to Bulgaria's membership in the Eurozone.

Price comparison (May 20 - November 24):

• Sugar: 1.87 BGN (start) -> 1.87 BGN (end)
• Beans: 4.35 BGN (start) -> 4.26 BGN (end)
• Rice: 3.38 BGN (start) -> 3.39 BGN (end)
• Flour: 1.54 BGN (start) -> 1.63 BGN (end)
• Oil: 3.15 BGN (start) -> 3.30 BGN (end)
• Eggs: 0.34 BGN (start) -> 0.40 BGN (end)
• Kashkaval: 18.60 BGN (start) -> 18.10 BGN (end)
• Cheese: 11.40 BGN (start) -> 11.94 BGN (end)
• Butter: 3.17 BGN (start) -> 3.16 BGN (end)
• Yogurt: 1.43 BGN (start) -> 1.35 BGN (end)
• Fresh milk: 2.36 BGN (start) -> 2.34 BGN (end)
• Pork: 10.27 BGN (start) -> 10.72 BGN (end)
• Chicken: 6.75 BGN (start) -> 6.82 BGN (end)
• Cucumbers: 1.94 BGN (start) -> 3.12 BGN (end)
• Tomatoes: 2.47 BGN (start) -> 2.48 BGN (end)
• Potatoes: 1.39 BGN (start) -> 0.96 BGN (end)
• Cabbage: 1.7 BGN (start) -> 0.85 BGN (end)
• Carrots: 1.7 BGN (start) -> 1.02 BGN (end)
• Onions: 1.36 BGN (start) -> 0.96 BGN (end)
• Red peppers: 3.27 BGN (start) -> 2.21 BGN (end)
• Green peppers: 4.32 BGN (start) -> 2.02 BGN (end)
• Zucchini: 1.30 BGN (start) -> 2.39 BGN (end)
• Lemons: 3.02 BGN (start) -> 3.31 BGN (end)
• Apples: 2.14 BGN (start) -> 2.33 BGN (end)
• Oranges: 2.94 BGN (start) -> 2.48 BGN (end)

Ivanov concluded that the market is functioning normally, with fluctuations typical for the autumn-winter period.