December 10: The prices of food products have been consistently rising since the last one and a half months. Considering the prices of food before Dashain festival as reference point, there has been a price hike of up to 33 percent.

The prices of edible oil, sugar and pulses shot up by 25 percent soon after Dashain.

According to the data provided by the Retail Business Association, the prices of lentil, pulses and edible oil have been consistently rising in recent weeks.

 The price of string beans which was Rs 120 per kilogram increased by 33 percent to Rs 160 per kilogram. Similarly, red lentil which used to cost Rs 140 per kg before Dashain now costs Rs 160, which is 14 percent increase in price.

Likewise, Indian red lentil also increased from Rs 115 kg to Rs 125 per kg during the review period. The price of black lentil increased from Rs 150 per kg to Rs 170 per kg.

Similarly, price of soybean oil has increased by 20 percent from R s 150 per litre to Rs 180 per litre.

Similarly, price of mustard oil (Dhara brand) has increased from Rs 220 to Rs 240. Sunflower oil saw an increase in price from Rs 175 per litre to Rs 195.

President of the Retail Business Association Raj Kumar Shrestha told New Business Age that the businessmen themselves are unaware about the reason behind price hike. He said that the industries and wholesalers have allegedly increased the price citing an increase in price in the international market but they have not mentioned it in the bill. Shrestha further said that the retailers are unable to maintain a uniform price because they haven’t received accurate bill from the producers and wholesalers.

“There isn’t any shortage of food in the market and there isn’t any excessive demand. Therefore, price hike during this time is unusual,” said Shrestha.

Meanwhile, wholesalers accuse the retailers of refusing to take the bill due to fear of value added tax (VAT).