FOODS BECOME 4% MORE EXPENSIVE

    BAKU/03.09.10/TURAN: The prices of foods rose by 4% on average last month. The surplus was +8.3% for beef, +5% for flour, +9% for butter, +10% for corn oil, +9% for rice, +60% for persimmons, +8% for raisins, and +15% for dried fruit. Meanwhile the prices of vermicelli and macaroni fell by 20%. As for agricultural products, tomatoes became 50% more expensive and the surplus for cucumbers was +20%. Meanwhile potatoes and onions became 25% cheaper. The prices of other agricultural products did not change.
     Experts explain the growing expensiveness of beef with the growing wholesale prices. Cattle breeders say the costs of running cattle farms have grown and the transportation has become more difficult.
     The experts explain the growing prices of flour with monopolization and the growing prices of imported flour. The prices are likely to grow again.
     Many other food prices were presumably increased artificially during the Holy Ramadan month. The expert Vugar Bayramov shares this opinion. `The foods most popular in Ramadan were raised in the prices, which was a deliberate action,` he said. He said the Economic Development Ministry should increase the struggle against the artificial price growth.
     The prices will presumably remain stable on the coming days. They might however grow gradually.