Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Prices of eggs, potato, chicken and salt shot up in Dhaka in May 2012 against the corresponding month of the previous year putting an extra pressure on the lower and middle income group of people.
Egg, potato, chicken and salt prices increased by 52.17 percent, 90.91 percent, 60.71 percent and 65 percent respectively in May as against the same month of the previous year, the central bank said in a report.
“We’ve prepared the report to know about the real market prices of the essential items,” a senior official of the Bangladesh Bank (BB) said, adding that the central banker also said the BB takes measures based on the prices of the items in the market.
Prices of four pieces of eggs rose to BDT 35 in May this year from BDT 23 a year ago. The price of four pieces of eggs now stands at BDT 40 in Dhaka which was BDT 37-38 in the previous week.
Potato was sold at BDT 21 per kg in May 2012 compared to BDT 11 in May 2011 while prices of chicken rose to BDT 450 per kg from BDT 280 per kg.
Prices of per kg salt (iodized) rose to BDY 33 in May last from BDT 20 a year ago, the BB data showed.
However, prices of 10 essential items out of 25 commodities increased in May compared to the previous month (April) while seven items declined and the rest remained unchanged, the BB said in a report on movement of prices of major essential consumer goods in Dhaka City.
The maximum rise was in banana price that increased by 50 percent during the period followed by turmeric by 40 percent, salt 22.22 percent, chicken 18.42 percent, chilly (dry) 15.38 percent, garlic 10 percent, lentil 4.76 percent, pulses (masur dal) 4.35 percent, onion 4.0 percent and fish (ruhi) 3.70 percent, according to the central bank report.
The commodities the prices of which have decreased are ginger by 7.14 percent, atta 5.56 percent, sugar 5.26 percent, potato 4.55 percent, rice (medium) 2.78 percent, milk powder 0.85 percent and soyabean oil 0.79 percent.
The prices of rice (coarse), wheat, beef, egg, mustard oil, milk, molasses (gur) and tea remained unchanged, the BB added.
 
BBN/SSR/AD-13June12-11:30 pm (BST)