The 30 main items of the basket of goods, including oil and gas, on March 15 were sold 20% more expensive than in January this year.
The January price list is based on INSTAT measurements available to the public on the official web, while the March 15 prices were taken from retail outlets in the capital, which reflected the lowest growth rates.
According to the attached price list, the largest increase in value had fats, flour and its by-products, hydrocarbons, etc.
Oil and butter prices had the highest growth rates. One kg of butter was sold yesterday with 1,000 lek from 682 lek in January, with an increase of 46.6%, while the price per liter of oil increased by 40% going to 320-330 lek per kg from 228.1 lek that was in January 2022.
Fat prices soared after Russia’s attacks on Ukraine. Countries in conflict top the list of exports of oil and raw materials for this product.
Involved in the war and Western sanctions against Russia brought about immediate increases in prices on oil products. While the price of butter is mainly due to internal factors that are created by the high costs of energy and fuel in dairy processing plants.
Because many of them buy energy in the free market, currently one kilowatt of energy is bought 4-5 times more expensive than last year in this period.
Pas yndyrave. the highest growth was recorded by flour and its by-products. One kilogram of packaged flour was sold yesterday at retail at 135 lek from 99.2 lek in January, increasing by 36%. The price of pasta increased by 20.5% and bread one kilogram increased by about 17%.
A liter of milk was sold yesterday for 160 lek per liter from 120.3 lek in January. While a liter of natural yogurt was sold for 150 lek with an increase of 16.2% compared to January.
High energy and transportation costs are affecting the entire food industry chain in the country. The growth of animal feed is increasing the costs of large farms, as Ukraine and Russia were important players in Europe for the supply of these products.
For these reasons, even the price of an egg increased by 16%. A grain is now being sold for 21 lek from 17 lek that was in January 2022.
Oil and gas prices also rose sharply after the war. A liter of oil yesterday cost about 10% more than in January 2022. The price is now being controlled by a joint board with government and market representatives, who meet periodically to change prices.
Compared to January, only the prices of cucumbers and onions have decreased. Cucumbers are sold 14% cheaper than in January, because new greenhouse production has hit the market, while export demand has shown problems after the war in Ukraine.
The war has changed consumer trends. Under the panic that prices will rise further and that products will be lacking in the market, this month there were unusual purchases in oil and flour items to the extent that the shelves of sales units were emptied./Monitor/
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