Decline in Food Prices: Data from DKSBT

This week, the State Commission on Commodity Exchanges and Marketplaces (DKSBT) reports a decrease in the prices of most fruits, vegetables, and basic food products in our country. The data provided by the commission paints a picture of changes in wholesale prices, which directly affect consumers.

The Index of Market Prices (ITC), which serves as an indicator of the movement of food prices wholesale in Bulgaria, shows a decrease of 0.52 percent, reaching 2.315 points, compared to 2.327 points a week earlier. The base level of the index was established in 2005 and is worth 1.000 points.

Looking at the prices of vegetables in detail, a mixed trend is observed. Only zucchini mark an increase in price, reaching 25.37 percent and reaching 2.55 BGN/kg. The most significant decrease was recorded for tomatoes, where the price decreased by 11.3 percent, reaching 2.48 BGN/kg.

Meanwhile, cucumbers are also getting cheaper, decreasing by 4.35 percent to 3.12 leva per kilogram. A decrease was also noted for green peppers – by 4.83 percent to 1.89 leva per kilogram, as well as for red peppers – by 2.18 percent to 2.15 leva per kilogram. The prices of cabbage, ripe onion, carrots and potatoes have also marked a decrease, respectively by 3.85 percent to 0.90 leva per kilogram, by 3.29 percent to 0.94 leva per kilogram, by 3.2 percent to 1.09 leva per kilogram and by 1.27 percent to 0.93 leva per kilogram.

Regarding fruits, a general decrease in prices is also observed. Bananas have become cheaper by 5.61 percent to 2.66 leva per kilogram, and oranges have marked a decrease of 5.07 percent, also reaching 2.66 leva per kilogram. The price of lemons has decreased by 3.52 percent to 3.56 leva per kilogram, and grapes mark a decrease of 1.61 percent, reaching 3.17 leva per kilogram. Apples demonstrate the most insignificant decrease, with 0.9 percent to 2.42 leva per kilogram.

DKSBT data reveal changes in the prices of dairy products and basic food products of animal origin. Cow's cheese has marked a decrease of 1.06 percent, reaching 11.94 leva per kilogram, while kashkaval type "Vitosha" registered a slight increase of 0.04 percent, reaching 18.04 leva per kilogram. Sour milk (3 and over 3 percent fat content) is up by 1 percent and sells for 1.39 leva per 400 g pot, and fresh milk - by 1.13 percent to 2.32 leva per liter. The price of cow's butter (a 125 gram pack) is lower and it is traded for 3.13 leva per piece, which is a 1.57 percent decrease.

With regard to meat and eggs, frozen chicken meat reports a decrease of 2.93 percent, reaching 6.89 leva per kilogram, while eggs (size M) increase by 2.04 percent and are traded for 0.40 leva per piece wholesale.

The prices of some basic food products have also undergone changes. Rice is up by 1.73 percent to 3.42 leva per kilogram, and flour type 500 – by 5.61 percent to 1.58 leva per kilogram. Oil is cheaper this week, selling for 3.28 leva per liter, which represents a decrease of 0.06 percent. Sugar increases by 1.74 percent to 1.87 leva per kilogram, ripe beans – by 2.15 percent to 4.28 leva per kilogram, and lentils – by 4.01 percent to 4.20 leva per kilogram.