Dubai: The fluctuating nature of fresh fruit and vegetable prices has clouded any clear trends in terms of commodity price variations from month to month.
Click here for selected commodities prices (pdf)
When compared to the same time a month ago, this week's price basket reveals some major price differences, but in no consistent direction.
Prices of Filipino bananas were slightly up in most stores throughout the UAE, whereas small lemons imported from Egypt were mostly cheaper when this weeks prices were collected on Monday.
Jordanian lettuce was consistently cheaper this month. The biggest price cut was found in Carrefour Abu Dhabi where the product was more than Dh2 per kilo cheaper. Lulu Centre in Umm Al Quiwain bucked the trend by raising the price to Dh5.95 per kilo compared to Dh3.90 last month.
Non-perishable goods often provide a clearer picture of consistent price changes. Rice, a staple for most UAE residents, either showed no price difference or a slight rise compared to December's figures.
The only two stores to raise the price of Sinnara Basmati Rice were AlIttihad Cooperative Society in Dubai, which showed a Dh6 per 5kg rise, and Lulu Centre in Umm Al-Quiwain, where the price went up by 70 fils per 5kg.
Meat products also failed to show a consistent movement. UAE harmour fish was consistently cheaper this month, in some stores by as much as Dh10 per kilo.
Fresh boneless beef imported from Australia was cheaper this month in those stores which changed the price. UAE-produced whole fresh chickens and mutton imported from Somalia were generally more expensive, although the price differences were marginal.
