DUSHANBE, August 18, 2009, Asia-Plus -- No sudden spike in prices of basic food products has been reported at Dushanbe’s market so far.  Prices have not changed since the beginning of the summer.

It is to be noted that prices of many basic food products usually rise some 10-15 percent in the country every year ahead the Islamic holy month of Ramadan.

On August 18, the price for a 50-kilogram sack of imported grade 1 wheat flour at Dushanbe’s Shohmansour bazaar fluctuated from 95 to 100 somoni, while, the 50-kilogram sack of local wheat flour cost 85 somoni.

The price of one kilogram of sugar has also not yet changed and amounts to 4.00 somoni.  Prices of vegetable oil have still also remained unchanged, fluctuating from 7.00 to 10.00 somoni.  The price of one liter of cooking (cotton) oil is 6.00 somoni.  One kilogram of macaroni still costs from 3.50 to 10.00 somoni, depending on grade and producer country.  The price of 10 eggs is 6.00 somoni and the price of one kilogram of beef is 18.00 somoni.

Moreover, prices of some farm produce have even little decreased over the past two months.  Thus, the price of one kilogram of onions has decreased from 1.30 somoni on June 1 to 1.00 somoni.  Prices of potatoes and carrots have remained the same and are 1.40-1.50 and 1.00 somoni per kilogram respectively.