Dubai: A week after several fruits got pricier, they stayed at largely the same level at the start of this week, however, vegetables stayed cheap, fish prices largely rose and the cost of shrimp dropped.
When analysing price changes seen halfway through the week, as expected, the changes that were seen in the costs of most grocery items, including the price of fruits, vegetables, most meats, poultry and seafood, were not all that significant – except for a few.
While the cost of most poultry variants stayed in check, like frozen chicken and eggs, the cost of fresh chicken had a volatile start. After spiking nearly a dirham at the week’s start for a kilo of the meat from last weekend, mid-week the price slipped just as much, and a bit more, to stay steady overall.
Cost of several fish variants rise
When studying the trend of seafood prices, there were quite a few prices seen spiking, particularly the cost of Hammour, Salmon, Seabream – and costs have stayed higher since. But the good news is it didn’t spike further, so if you were looking to protect yourself from any future price increases – stock up!
However, for those who were still hoping for some seafood, the good news is that the price of a kilo of small shrimp had dropped Dh5.6 on Saturday last week, and remained unchanged since! So maybe an ideal time for a shrimp cocktail?
Veggies stay cheap, fruits stay pricey!
The price of vegetables like onions and tomatoes – the most common staple products in almost every household – keep fluctuating back and forth during the course of any week. However, it was observed that this week, like last week, saw little-to-any price change in both the items, when compared to much fluctuations in the weeks prior.
While the daily per kilogram costs for every other variety of vegetable in the market stayed the same during the first half of the week, and as cheap as last week, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to get some grocery shopping done ahead of the weekend rush!
It wouldn’t be a bad idea to get some grocery shopping done ahead of the weekend rush!
Although, if opting to do so, keep in mind that the cost of fruits continue to stay on the slightly pricier end. Midway through the week, after prices rose a week earlier, the cost of fruits stayed unchanged this week – which may be good news – but it also means that compared to prior weeks, prices are on the higher end. But maybe stock up on some apples, which saw its price dip slightly.
Key highlights pertaining to price changes that were seen halfway through the week:
The cost of fresh chicken after rising 80fils from last week-end, slipped Dh1.5 from Sunday. A kilo now costs Dh12.3. The cost of eggs and frozen chicken stayed the same.
When coming to seafood, the cost of Seabass fish slipped Dh1 from last week on Sunday, but stayed the same afterwards. A kilo of Seabass now costs between Dh32.9 to Dh67.9. Also, the cost of Hammour, which has a starting cost of Dh66, had spiked Dh20.1 from last week and stayed the same since.
And the list of price increases in fish varieties does not end there. The cost of a kilogram of Salmon now costs Dh40, after rising Dh4.1 from last Saturday and has been on the same price level in the days that followed. The price of Seabream too rose, by Dh1 from last Saturday to Dh31.9 a-kilo, but stayed unchanged since.
However, the notable price drop was seen in small-sized shrimp. After dropping Dh5.6 a-kilo on Saturday and staying cheap ever since, picking up some shrimp for the weekend will be easy on your pocket.
When it comes to fruits, apples now cost as much as Dh16. The maximum retail price fell from Dh17.9 on Saturday and still stays cheap. When it comes to a kilo of lime, after slipping Dh0.5 from last weekend, slipped further Dh1 from Sunday – now costing Dh4 per kilo.
However, the cost lettuce – which often fluctuates – is now priced at Dh5.8 for a kilogram for the vegetable. After dropping Dh2 per kilo from last Saturday, the price largely stabilized after rising Dh1.8 from Sunday.
