Prices of essential items see rising trend on high input cost

NEW DELHI: Prices of essential goods, including foodgrains, have witnessed a rising trend due to increasing input costs, seasonal factors and change in consumption pattern, Parliament was informed today.

"Prices of essential commodities, including foodgrains, have witnessed a rising trend mainly due to increase in input cost, changing consumption, etc," Food Minister K V Thomas said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

The demand-supply mismatch in pulses and edible oils has led to increased imports. The prices of pulses and edible oils are influenced by the volatility in global prices, he added.

Replying to a separate query in the Lok Sabha, Thomas said that prices of tomato have shown some rise.

"Prices of edible oils and tomato have shown some increase, however, prices of some essential food items such as pulses, sugar and onion have declined over the period of last three months," he added.

Thomas said that the government in order to contain prices rise has reduced import duties to zero for rice, wheat, onions, pulses, edible oils (crude) and to 7.5 per cent for refined oil.

Similarly, the National Dairy Development Board (NDDB) has been allowed to import 50,000 tonnes of skimmed milk powder and 15,000 tonnes of butter, butter oil and anhydrous milk fat at zero duty, among several other measures, he added.