site.btaLower Prices of Some Vegetables Push Down Index of Wholesale Food Prices for First Time Since Last October

The index of wholesale food prices went down by 1.14% to 2.197 points this past week, which is the first decrease of the index since October 2021 when it averaged 1.630 points, the State Commission on Commodity Exchanges and Wholesale Markets said on Sunday. 

A year ago the index ranged around 1.650 points, or 33% less. Since the start of 2022 the index has gained nearly 19.5%.

The index's baseline of 1 point was established in 2005. 

The wholesale price of hothouse tomatoes decreased by 7% to 4.15 leva/kg. Hothouse cucumbers depreciated by 18% to 2.92 leva/kg. Potatoes went up by 7.6% and traded at 0.96 leva/kg. Carrots traded at 1.07 leva/kg. Cabbage went down by 6.5% and sold at 1.16 leva/kg. Imported red peppers fell by 11.7% and traded at 3.77 leva/kg on average. Lettuce depreciated by nearly 15% to 0.80 leva apiece.

Apples increased by 8.5% to 1.41 leva/kg. Lemons went up by 1.1% to 1.89 leva/kg. Strawberries sold at 4.64 leva/kg. 

The wholesale price of white brined cheese from cow's milk went up by 3.3% to 9.50 leva/kg. Vitosha yellow kashkaval cheese went up by 3.4% and sold at 15.09 leva/kg. Sunflower oil gained 1.8% and traded at 5.14 leva/litre. Butter from cow's milk sold at 2.62 leva per 125-gram pack, decreasing by 3.3%. 

Chicken went up by 2.2% and traded at 5.70 leva/kg. Sugar increased by 2.9 to 2.10 leva/kg. Grade 500 flour lost 4.1% and traded at 1.39 leva/kg. Rice went down by 1.9% to 2.63 leva/kg. Eggs were available at 0.27 leva apiece.