Commodity prices shoot up in Jaipur

Jaipur, Dec 9 (ANI) : Resident of Jaipur are facing problems due to the price rise of general commodities by 40 to 50 percent.

Prices of essential food items, vegetables and items like sugar, ghee or clarified butter, rice and pulses have been witnessing a sharp increase.

Upset at being unable to manage her kitchen budget Dr. Amisha Jain, said it is difficult to compromise on the kitchen items; hence she has cut down on other accessories and shopping sprees.

"Earlier, the monthly grocery cost us around 2,000 rupees, but now it costs up to 3000 rupees so we have to compromise on other accessories and shopping items. But, kitchen is something we can't compromise on," Jain said.

The high prices of the general commodities have not only affected the households but have also shrunk the profits of the retailers.

Shopkeepers in the Pink city complained that due to high prices their sales have come down and their margins have fallen very low.

"The flour prices have risen up from 15 rupees to 18 rupees. We earn about 100 rupees from our shop, which is spend on buying general grocery items. Where will the poor person go with these hiked prices and what will he eat? I have never seen such a hike in the commodity prices in my whole life," said Manorama, a vegetable seller.

India's annual wholesale price inflation was 1.34 percent in October, but the benign numbers just reflect the high base effect of prices a year ago, and hide the real rise in prices of food articles. The WPI has already risen over 6 percent from the beginning of the 2009-10 financial year that started in April.

Economists have said the inflation could rise to as much as 8 percent by the end of the financial year-above the central bank's perceived comfort zone of around 5 percent.

Food prices have jumped 15.6 percent in the year on supply constraints.

Though the food inflation is politically sensitive, yet it is largely beyond the scope of interest rate policy. (ANI)