Essential commodities prices show mixed trend

New Delhi: Amid rising inflation retail prices of essential commodities have either remained steady or shown mixed trend for the week ended July 18.

The data, maintained by the consumer affairs ministry, shows that prices of wheat remained steady in the major cities across the country, except for an increase at Lucknow," an official statement said.

Prices of sugar remained steady in the cities except for an increase in Delhi and Mumbai and decrease in Bhubaneswar and Bangalore, the statement said.

Gram dal prices remained stable except for an increase in Delhi, Bhubaneswar, Guwahati and Chennai and decrease in Mumbai and Thiruvanthapuram.

Prices of tur dal witnessed an increase in Lucknow, Bhubaneswar, Bangalore, Chennai and Thiruvananthapuram and a decrease in Delhi and Mumbai.

In Delhi, prices of rice, groundnut oil, tea and onion remained stable for the week. Wheat, vanaspati and onion remained steady for one month. Atta, milk and salt stayed unchanged for six months and gram, mustard oil, tea and potato increased while tur dal decreased, the statement said.

State-run trading agencies have contracted to import about 1.4 mn tons of pulses to boost domestic availability.

About 1.22 mn tons of these imports have arrived and 1.10 mn tons have been disposed till date. The pulses, which are being imported, include urad, moong, tur and yellow peas, the statement added.