site.btaWholesale Prices of Basic Foods, Fruits and Vegetables Down Nearly 2% in the Week 12–16 May

A marked decline in vegetable quotations on Bulgaria’s wholesale markets continued this week, and other staple foods also fell, the State Commission on Commodity Exchanges and Wholesale Markets said in its weekly bulletin released on Sunday.

The wholesale food price index, which traces wholesale movements of major food commodities, slipped by 1.94% to 2.331 points from 2.377 points a week earlier. The base level of 1 point was set in 2005.

Vegetables

All vegetables monitored by the commission saw price decreases. New potatoes dropped the most, down 16.2% to BGN 3.32 per kg. Ordinary potatoes fell 0.7% to BGN 1.41 per kg. Cucumbers were down 15.1% to BGN 2.08 per kg, and cabbage declined 11.5% to BGN 1.71 per kg. Turnip prices decreased 10.2% to BGN 0.84 each. Green peppers dropped 9.1% to BGN 4.42 per kg, and lettuce was down 9% to BGN 0.94 per head. Tomato prices were down 7.8% to BGN 2.60 per kg, dry onions fell 5.2% to BGN 1.37 per kg, and carrots slipped 0.2% to BGN 1.31 per kg.

Fruits

Apples increased in price by 8.4% to BGN 2.10 per kg, and lemons went up 4.1% to BGN 2.95 per kg. Strawberry prices fell 1.2% to BGN 5.65 per kg, while bananas decreased 0.6% to BGN 2.83 per kg.

Dairy products

White brined cheese from cow’s milk rose by 0.9% to BGN 11.47 per kg, and kashkaval cheese (Vitosha type) increased by 0.4% to BGN 18.60 per kg. Yogurt (3% fat or more) went up by 5.3% to BGN 1.44 for a 400-gram cup, while fresh milk (3% fat) climbed 2% to BGN 2.43 per litre. Butter (125 g pack) became 1.9% cheaper at BGN 3.12 per pack.

Meat and eggs

Poultry fell 0.6% to BGN 6.69 per kg. Eggs (size M) rose 0.7% to BGN 0.34 each.

Staple goods

Rice increased by 2.8% to BGN 3.40 per kg, while flour (type 500) rose by 4% to BGN 1.51 per kg. Sunflower oil decreased by 1.4% to BGN 3.14 per litre, and sugar dropped by 1.1% to BGN 1.80 per kg.

Pulses

Mature beans were 1.2% cheaper at BGN 4.25 per kg, while lentils decreased by 1.7% to BGN 4.35 per kg.