Fuel price hike begins to have impact on costs of essentials in city

Bella Jaisinghani

Mumbai: With petrol price in Mumbai Rs 107.59 per litre and diesel Rs 94.08 in the wake of the latest rate increase on Tuesday, the cumulative fuel hike over the past four days comes to Rs 4 per litre. As fuel costs feed into transportation and essential goods, the increases, it appears, have begun to have an impact on household budgets and inflation in the city. Transporters have increased freight by 3%, which would increase costs of essentials, fruits and vegetables. Mumbaikars TOI spoke to said the effect was already being felt.

“A discounted can of 4.25 kg edible oil which cost Rs 750 in D’Mart in Feb has gone up by Rs 200 to Rs 939 since the West Asia war began. Common garden vegetables cost Rs 100-120 per kg, while french beans and green peas are Rs 200-220 per kg. Pulses are in the range of Rs 180-250 per kg, while sugar has risen to Rs 50-52, up from Rs 40-42 a year ago,” said a housewife from Versova.

The cheapest dal, which is chana dal, sold for Rs 110-120 per kg in the city on Tuesday. Masoor dal was Rs 150, moong dal Rs 180, tuvar dal Rs 190, whole moong Rs 220 and urad dal Rs 220. Unpolished and branded versions were marginally costlier.

Certain spices are costlier than dried fruit and nuts. Chiman Bhanushali of Hari Om Traders in APMC Vashi said green cardamom was priced at Rs 2,300 to Rs 3,600 per kg. A Khar trader said, “Cloves are at Rs 1,500-2,000 per kg and black pepper Rs 1,200-1,600. Almonds and cashew nuts cost less than that.” Vishal Gala of Vagad International in APMC said dried red chillies have recently risen from Rs 250 to Rs 350.

Despite the summer heat, when demand is typically low and prices tend to fall, eggs were selling for Rs 80 per dozen at House of Eggs, Mahim, and Rs 90 at Breadkraft in Lokhandwala Complex, Andheri. Home delivery drives up prices too, said Altaf Ahmed Khan of Ahmed Eggs Merchant. “The wholesale rate is Rs 590 per 100 eggs. But consumption is low,” he said.

Suman Das, a homemaker in Kalbadevi, said, “Eggs, a staple breakfast item, are expensive. Not too long ago, meat was a weekly treat. Now mutton at Rs 850-900 per kg and chicken at Rs 280-300 makes one think twice.”