site.btaWholesale Prices of Most Staple Foods Show Weekly Rise

The average wholesale prices of most staple foods, fruits and vegetables in Bulgaria rose during the week starting on February 2, the State Commission for Commodity Exchanges and Wholesale Markets reports in its bulletin. The food wholesale market index increased by 1.38% to 2.497 points. The base level of the index (1.000 points) was established in 2005.

Among vegetables, the largest price increases were recorded for cabbage, up 22.64% to EUR 0.52 per kilogramme, and courgettes, up 21.78% to EUR 2.55/kg. The average wholesale price of peppers also rose significantly, with green peppers up 16.31% to EUR 2.51/kg and red peppers up 9.77% to EUR 2.45/kg. Cucumbers became 10.48% more expensive at EUR 2.51/kg, potatoes increased by 8% to EUR 0.54/kg, and carrots rose 1.35% to EUR 0.60/kg.

Over the week in review, average wholesale prices fell for mature onions, down 12.24% to EUR 0.43/kg, and tomatoes, down 3.43% to EUR 1.86/kg.

Among fruits, price increases were observed across the board. Bananas rose the most, up 9.4% to EUR 1.56 per kilogramme, followed by lemons, which became 5.93% more expensive at EUR 1.75/kg. Oranges increased by 3.81% to EUR 1.20/kg, apples by 3.79% to EUR 1.15/kg, and tangerines by 3.69% to EUR 1.35/kg.

The average wholesale price of white brined cheese from cow's milk rose 1.82% to EUR 6.26/kg, while Vitosha-type yellow kashkaval cheese fell 0.5% to EUR 9.60/kg. Yogurt (3% and higher fat content) became cheaper by 4.01% and is sold at EUR 0.67 per 400 g tub, and fresh milk dropped 2.91% to EUR 1.20 per litre. The price of butter (125 g pack) also fell, down 2.04% to EUR 1.63 per pack.

Frozen chicken meat decreased by 0.73% to EUR 3.54 per kilogramme, while medium-sized eggs rose 2.8% to EUR 0.22 each.

Rice became 0.85% cheaper at EUR 1.64/kg. Type 500 wheat flour also dropped, down 3.15% to EUR 0.80/kg, and mature beans fell 0.56% to EUR 2.15/kg. On the other hand, sunflower oil rose 2.14% to EUR 1.72 per litre, sugar increased by 0.65% to EUR 0.93 per kilogramme, and lentils became 1.55% more expensive at EUR 2.10/kg.