site.btaWholesale Food Prices Up 0.5%, Vegetables Depreciating in First Week of October

The market price index (MPI), which reflects the movement of wholesale food prices in Bulgaria, rose by 0.5% to 2.211 in the first week of October. Most basic food products appreciated, but the price of vegetables went down, the Commodity Exchange and Wholesale Markets State Commission said.

The level of the MPI at the beginning of 2023 was 2.316 points. The MPI's baseline level of 1,000 points was set in 2005.

Of the vegetables, only hothouse tomatoes appreciated, by 10.9% to BGN 3.57 per kilo. Hothouse cucumbers depreciated the most, by 26.9% to BGN 2.15 per kilogram. Potatoes depreciated by 3.7% to BGN 1.30 per kilo. The price of cabbage dropped by 6% to BGN 1.09 per kilo, of carrots by 1.7% to BGN 1.19 per kilo, of green peppers by 6.9% to BGN 1.63 per kilo, of red peppers by 4.9% to BGN 1.93 per kilo, and of imported onions by 1.4% to BGN 1.40 per kilo. 

Of the fruit, only lemons depreciated, by 3.4% to BGN 2.82 per kilo. The price of imported apples grew by 3.9% to BGN 2.11 per kilo, of bananas by 1.1% to BGN 2.84 per kilo, of watermelons by 11.4% to BGN 0.98 per kilo, of melons by 10.2% to BGN 1.83 per kilo, and of grapes by 5% to BGN 2.33 per kilo.

White brined cheese from cow's milk appreciated by 1.0%  and traded at BGN 11.40 per kilo, and the price of Vitosha yellow kashkaval cheese went up by 0.2% to BGN 17.30 per kilo.

Yoghurt (3 and above 3% fat content) appreciated by 2.7% and traded at BGN 1.16 per 400 g. The price of fresh milk (3% fat) also increased, by 0.9%, and sold at BGN 2.16 per litre.

Poultry appreciated by 0.6% and was offered at BGN 6.65 per kilo. The price of eggs (size M) went up as well, by 3.1% to BGN 0.31 per piece.

The price of rice grew by 2.2% and a kilo traded at BGN 3.30. Lentils also appreciated, by 1.0% to BGN 4.15 per kilo, as did haricot beans by 0.5% to BGN 4.02 per kilo.

The price of sugar grew by 2.4% and a kilo sold at BGN 2.51. Type 500 flour depreciated by 4.7% to BGN 1.43 per kilo. The price of sunflower oil went up by 4.6% and a litre traded at BGN 3.18. The price of butter from cow's milk remained unchanged and 125 grammes sold at BGN 2.55.