Kuwait Times weekly commodity prices survey
KUWAIT: In 2014, Kuwait Times started a campaign to investigate the price changes of some basic commodities starting from a month prior to the holy month of Ramadan. The weekly survey covers the prices of seven different kinds of commodities (per kilogram) bought from a supermarket, for the purpose of comparing the prices on a weekly basis. These are popular items whose prices usually increase during Ramadan. This year, we also added eggs and milk to the previous list which contains minced meat, chicken, tomatoes, lemons, and cucumbers.
The prices of prime commodities vary from one co-op society to another. Surprisingly, the prices of these goods are different when compared to privately run small and big supermarket prices. According to our list, the prices monitored in a co-op society last week compared to supermarket prices were as follows: the price of minced beef per kg was KD 2.750 but supermarkets were selling it for KD 2.150 only. Tomatoes were sold for 550 fils per kg in co-ops, but in supermarkets it was for 495 fils only. But cucumber in co-ops was cheaper than that sold in supermarkets. Last week, cucumbers in co-ops were sold for 50 fils per kg, whereas the supermarkets had it for 145 fils per kg.
The prices of the items are as follows (Supermarkets today):
One kg of fresh minced meat (beef) costs KD 2.150
One kg of fresh Saudi chicken costs KD 1.400 One kg of local tomatoes costs 495 fils One kg of African lemons costs 775 fils
One kg of local cucumbers costs 145 fils One liter local milk costs KD 1.250 X 4 One tray of eggs containing 30 eggs costs KD 790
The prices of the items are as follows (coops last week):
One kg of fresh minced meat (beef) costs KD 2.750
One kg of fresh Saudi chicken costs KD 1.760 One kg of local tomatoes costs 550 fils One kg of African lemons costs 660 fils One kg of local cucumbers costs 50 fils One liter local milk costs 430 fils One tray of eggs containing 30 eggs costs KD 1.100
Kuwait Times will be following the prices of these items, in order to check if any increase in price occurs during this period and until the beginning of the holy month of Ramadan.
Kuwait Times will update the readers with the next investigation report in the coming week. The prices are the same in all co-ops for the same kind and brand, but may differ from one supermarket to another. Also, co-ops hold weekly food festivals, including special discounts on fruits and vegetables for one day a week.