Prices of some essential commodities witnessed a decline last week, according to the city's kitchen market sources, giving consumers some relief during this pandemic period.
Prices of broiler chicken, sugar, potato, coarse lentil, garlic, ginger, cardamom, clove and some vegetables dropped in last seven days.
Broiler chicken was sold at Tk 130-145 a kg on Saturday, which was Tk 140-155 a kg a week back. Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) recorded 7.0 per cent decline in chicken prices on an average in last seven days.
Farm egg prices, however, witnessed a slight surge to Tk 100-104 a dozen during the period from Tk 90-96 a week back.
Prices of hilsa and other fishes, beef and mutton remained the same, maintaining their previous high level.
Beef price was Tk 580-600 a kg, mutton Tk 850-950 a kg, and hilsa fish Tk 1,000-1,350 a kg based on quality.
Staple food rice and key spice onion remained static at their previous rates.
Potato price showed Tk 4.0-6.0 a kg fall in last two days, and was sold at Tk 24-26 a kg on Saturday.
Coarse lentil was sold at Tk 70-80 a kg from Tk 80-95 a kg earlier, according to groceries of different areas of the city.
Sugar price also witnessed Tk 5.0 a kg fall, and retailed at Tk 62-70 a kg on the day.
Spices like garlic, cardamom, cinnamon, cloves and ginger witnessed 9.0 to 34 per cent decline in a week, TCB data showed.
Prices of seasonal eddo, snake gourd, sponge gourd, pointed gourd, papaya, and all kinds of leafy vegetables witnessed a slight decline in last three days.
Traders said rise in supply after easing shutdown helped to reduce prices of the commodities.
They also said their prices could drop further, if transportation costs would become normal.
Abul Kalam Miron, a trader in the city's Mohammadpur Krishi Market, told the FE that supply of spices and vegetables has increased to some extent after the government has eased the lockdown.
He said a good chunk of foreign spices have been brought to the city from Chattogram Port in last one week that helped to cut their prices.
Arun Bosak, a vegetable wholesaler in Sadeq Khan Agricultural Market in Rayerbazar-Beribadh area, said harvest of some veggies has started in full swing in the districts like Rangpur, Bogura, Rajshahi, Kushtia, Cumilla, Narshingdi, Manikganj, Jashore and Chattogram.
He also said beginning of crop collection and rise in number of plying vehicles on highways have helped to cut prices.
"But the prices could be reduced further, if transportation cost would become normal."
He noted that truck and pickup-van fares have gone up by two to three times in last one and a half months during the shutdown and holidays, enforced by the government as a precaution against the coronavirus pandemic.
The cost of carrying a veggie-laden truck from Rangpur to Dhaka was Tk 12,000-14,000 before the pre-holiday period, which has skyrocketed to Tk 30,000-32,000 at present, he added.
