Rains may have brought some cheers for farmers as sowing has picked across the country during last week, but it has created problem for consumers as price of all major food items have seen a rise as rains hit supply of the commodities across the country, especially in North.
Heavy shower in Punjab and Haryana, last week disrupted the supply of vegetables and foodgrain. The rise in freight rates due to increase in fuel cost also worsened the situation as trucks were off the road on last Monday.
Price of rice and wheat, which have remained flat since the last two months in almost all the major cities across the country mainly because of massive stocks and bumper harvest, have increased by over 5% during the week ending July 12 in Mumbai and Kolkata an FE analysis of main food prices across major cities in the country showed. The analysis based on data furnished by consumers affairs department also showed that after remaining stable for almost three months, potato prices also rose steeply from July 5 to July 12. In Thiruvananthapuram, prices rose 14%, Mumbai 9% and Delhi 3.5%. It was selling at around Rs 14.5 in the retail markets of Delhi.
There was a slight upward movement in sugar prices across all major cities also. In Hyderabad, sugar prices went up by 6.8% to Rs 31 per kg while in Bangalore, sugar became costlier by 3.5% to Rs 29 during the week ending July 12. Mustard oil also become costlier by 7.9% to Rs 68 per kg in Hyderabad. In Kolkata, mustard oil prices also increased by 7.1% to Rs 60 per kg.