Increase in Prices of Vegetables and Foodstuffs Reported by SCMCBT

Higher prices for most vegetables are reported by the State Commission on Commodity Exchanges and Markets (DKSBT) during the last week. The Index of Market Prices (ITC), a key indicator for the movement of wholesale food prices in the country, marks an increase.

The analysis of DKSBT shows that the ITC has increased by 1.19 percent, reaching 2.299 points. For comparison, the previous week the value of the index was 2.272 points. It is important to note that the base value of the ITC, used for comparison, is 1.000 points and was determined in 2005.

Significant dynamics are observed in the vegetable market. Cucumbers report the sharpest price increase, which have increased their price by 26.53 percent, reaching 2.90 leva per kilogram. Zucchini are also affected by the increase, with their price increasing by 21.77 percent to 1.60 leva per kilogram. The price of potatoes reports a solid growth of 10.06 percent, reaching 1.05 leva per kilogram. Red peppers also become more expensive, by 8.08 percent to 2.30 leva per kilogram, while the increase in green peppers is more moderate - by 4.70 percent to 1.96 leva per kilogram. Tomatoes are also up in price, by 4.48 percent, reaching 2.80 leva per kilogram. Cabbage maintains its price from last week, trading at 1.04 leva per kilogram. On the other hand, carrots become cheaper by 2.62 percent to 1.19 leva per kilogram, and ripe onions - by 2.31 percent to 1.10 leva per kilogram.

Regarding fruits, only watermelons and grapes report higher prices. Watermelons become more expensive by 10.32 percent to 0.62 leva per kilogram, and grapes – by 1.49 percent to 3.13 leva per kilogram. Apples are cheaper by 7.51 percent to 2.34 leva per kilogram, and lemons - by 2.58 percent to 3.77 leva per kilogram. Bananas also report a price drop – by 0.71 percent to 2.79 leva per kilogram.

A mixed trend is observed in dairy products. The price of cow's cheese decreases by 0.49 percent to 12.12 leva per kilogram, and that of "Vitosha" type kashkaval – by 1.53 percent to 17.90 leva per kilogram. Yogurt (3 and over 3 percent fat content) marks an increase of 2.62 percent and is sold at 1.41 leva per 400 gram cup. Fresh milk also becomes more expensive by 1.75 percent to 2.33 leva per liter. The price of cow's butter (125 gram packet) is higher, trading at 3.17 leva per piece, which represents a decrease of 0.32 percent.

Frozen chicken meat becomes cheaper by 0.32 percent to 6.95 leva per kilogram, while eggs (size M) maintain their price from last week, trading at 0.38 leva per piece wholesale.

The following changes are reported for the main food products: the price of rice increases by 2.13 percent to 3.35 leva per kilogram. Flour type 500 becomes cheaper by 4.23 percent to 1.45 leva per kilogram. Oil marks an increase of 5.15 percent, reaching 3.35 leva per liter, and sugar becomes cheaper by 1.77 percent to 1.78 leva per kilogram. The prices of ripe beans are lower – by 2.76 percent to 4.16 leva per kilogram, as well as of lentils – by 3.25 percent to 3.99 leva per kilogram.