The price of the consumer basket in our country has increased by 1 euro and is currently 58 euros for the week, which is similar to the level of the previous week and approximately 4 euros more than in the same period last year. The main difference comes from higher prices for fruits and vegetables. This was said today by the Chairman of the State Commission for Commodity Exchanges and Markets and Chairman of the Coordination Center for the Euro Mechanism Vladimir Ivanov during a briefing in the building of the Council of Ministers.
According to him, the most serious price increase is observed precisely in some of the fresh vegetables. Over the past week, the price of cucumbers has stabilized and a certain drop in zucchini has been reported, while pepper prices remain high. Tomatoes have risen in price by about 11 cents in the past week.
On an annual basis, tomatoes are about 28 percent more expensive than the same period last year, cucumbers by 43 percent, red peppers by 12 percent, and green peppers by 7 percent. For zucchini, the price increase compared to last year is about 68 percent. Lemons are approximately 70 percent more expensive, and tangerines and oranges by between 10 and 12 percent. are about 22 percent above last year's levels.
At the same time, some basic vegetables are experiencing a decrease in price, which is explained by seasonal factors and a good harvest. The price of potatoes is about 31 percent lower on an annual basis, cabbage - by 29 percent, carrots - by about 3 percent, and onions - by about 20 percent lower compared to the same period last year.
The market for basic food products remains stable, Ivanov pointed out. The prices of sugar, beans and rice are below last year's levels, with a slight decrease reported on international markets - about 4 percent for sugar, 12 percent for beans, and about 2 percent for rice.
Dairy products such as yellow cheese, cheese and butter are between 3 and 4 percent above last year's levels. Fresh milk and pork are about 1 percent below the levels of the previous year. A weak but persistent trend towards a decrease in prices is observed for chicken meat.
Flour and oil are about 5 percent different compared to last year. A more significant increase in price is reported for eggs - about 35 percent on an annual basis, which is, however, due to the lower base from last year. Last year they were 17 cents, and currently they are 23 cents.
In general, the market shows a stable trend and currently prices are at a kind of plateau, after their gradual increase since the beginning of the year, Ivanov also said. According to him, geopolitical tensions and military conflicts on a global scale do not currently have a direct impact on the domestic market in Bulgaria.