Food prices in January rose unreasonably

Baku/05.02.14/Turan : In January, food prices rose by an average of 2.5%. Local producers raised prices - the price tags make it clear that the company Azersun raised prices up to 5 %.

Thus, a two-liter can of the ghee Supersun cost in retail from 6 to 6.5 manats, depending on location of the store, and now it is from 6.5 to 7.2 manats. Liquid vegetable oils, including olive oil, as well as all sorts of packed tea , rice and cereals from the same firm also rose in retail from 40 to 60 kopecks per kg.

It is a surprising fact because this holding has its resource base and infrastructure development in Azerbaijan and Russia and its leadership promised to reduce wholesale prices by boosting production. Turan correspondent for two days tried to get a response from the structure responsible for marketing (tel. 514 36 82), but the attempts were in vain. 

The market for agricultural products contributed most sharply to inflation after the tariff increases on fuel and the snow that fell in late January snow. On all kinds of goods, the increase was from 20 to 70 %. Most rapidly increased the price of white cabbages - 25-30 kopecks rose to 40, and then to 50-60 kopecks per kilo.

While on wholesale bases groundlessly (10 %) went up certain types of imported food, although their prices, according to the manufacturer's website, remained stable. Cheapening in the food market was not observed, with unchanged prices for water, juices, fruit drinks and others, including alcoholic drinks.

According to economic experts, the ever-increasing prices of some food products are primarily related to the absence of state regulation mechanism. Managed market reacts to tariff increases, pensions and salaries of teachers - in the end inflation with interest eats annual increments to the level of life of 7-10 %. The second factor is economically unjustified increase (sometimes downward) in the price - total monopolization.

Thus, the minimum price of beef for a long time (since 2011) was 7 manat , moreover , that the consumer is often not aware of the origin of the meat. On the largest in the country Barda wholesale market cattle in 1 kg of live weight of calves costs the buyer 2.9 manat with transport costs to Baku (260 km), where concentrated is up to 60 % of the demand. That is, a kilo of meat should cost the final consumer 6.5 manat, including rental and other expenses of the shop. As Turan was told by one of the capital traders, prices (from 7 to 8.5 manat) are affected not only by the reliability of the seller and product quality, but also bribery of local officials - from the district executive power to sanitation and epidemics station.

Economists believe that the wave of price hike of food is gone, now the population is waiting for the rise in prices of agricultural products due to the cold. -17D-