Abu Dhabi: A report by Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi showed the Ministry of Economy has failed to honour promises to stabilise prices during Ramadan.

While the Economy Ministry says prices of more than 2,600 commodities, including essential foods, have been stable during the fasting month, the Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi has reported a four per cent increase in prices.

“The prices of more than 2,600 commodities, including essential foods, were stabilised across the UAE during Ramadan,” said Dr Hashim Al Nuaimi, director of the Consumer Protection Department at the Ministry of Economy, as he inspected shops in Al Ain on Tuesday.

However, a report by the Statistics Centre - Abu Dhabi (SCAD) showed a four per cent increase in the prices of the food basket commodities during the third week of Ramadan, compared with the first week of the previous month, reflecting rises in the prices of fruits by 13.1 per cent, vegetables by 15.6 per cent, and fish and seafood by 3.7 per cent.

As for the changes in the expenditure groups detailed by region, the largest rise was observed in the fruits group in Al Ain region, where the group advanced by 24.0 per cent, compared with 11.0 per cent in the Abu Dhabi and 9.1 per cent in Al Gharbia region. Prices of the vegetables group recorded an overall rise of 15.6 per cent, according to SCAD’s third weekly report on food prices in Ramadan.

A breakdown of the increase by region reveals a rise in the group’s prices by 16.0 per cent in Abu Dhabi, 16.3 per cent in Al Gharbia and 17.0 per cent in Al Ain.

The report monitors changes in food prices during the third week of Ramadan compared with price levels in the preceding week and the same week in the previous month.

The food price index methodology has been developed by a team of experts in conformity with relevant international standards. The index is compiled on the basis of a basket consisting of two main groups and 11 sub-groups.

A breakdown by region shows increases in most of the basket food groups during the third week of Ramadan compared with the previous week. For instance, the price of fruit advanced by an average of 1.5 per cent for Abu Dhabi, the corresponding rises being 1.0 per cent in Al Ain region and 1.5 per cent in Abu Dhabi. Also, the report shows the increase in vegetables, the corresponding rises being 2.2 per cent in Al Ain region and 1.4 per cent in Al Gharbia region.

The report added that the updated methodology of the daily food price index has already been approved, pointing out that it is consistent with relevant international recommendations and standards. The index basket consists of 214 items.

Price data are collected by SCAD from sources selected on the basis of field visits to ensure that they are representative of a broad segment of consumers across Abu Dhabi during Ramadan.

SCAD emphasised the importance of the consumer prices index (CPI) in the promotion of statistical awareness about consumption among the public, especially in Ramadan and other periods where the index can reflect the movement of prices and rates of inflation, thus helping better planned spending. In addition, the index offers a baseline for government authorities concerned to monitoring prices, ensure that there is sufficient supply of various goods, exercise consumer protection, and learn about consumption patterns during the holy month, thereby obtaining inputs for future planning in this regard.