April 4 2011, 10:59 Fruit-Inform

Ukraine: 13% growth of fruit and veg prices in March

Fruit-Inform Project's fruit and vegetable index shows that Ukraine's fruit and vegetable inflation has reached 13% in March. This means that in March a Ukrainian consumer had to pay 13% more than in February for the same assortment of fruits and vegetables. If to compare prices in March of this year with prices in March 2010, then now a consumer has to overpay 43%!

"Fruit and vegetable price growth was caused by increase of prices for traditional vegetables, as demand for them had grown due to the beginning of fasting. At the same time, there was no expected growth of supply of these vegetables, and high-quality produce was actively exported to Russia that negatively affected the Ukrainian market. According to Fruit-Inform Project's estimates, traditional vegetables grew in price by 17.1% over a month.

Fruits did not drop behind vegetables as they increased in price by 13.4% in March. This was mostly due to apples as shortage for this produce was perceptible in almost all European countries and especially appreciable in Russia. Decrease of Ukrainian apple stocks created prerequisites for the price growth.

The only category of produce decreasing in price were greenhouse vegetables. However, they became cheaper only slightly (by 2.3%). And if tomato prices decreased, than cucumbers increased in price over last month.

“There can be a further vegetable price growth in April”, Andriy Yarmak, Head of Fruit-Inform Project, says. “Unfortunately, a Ukrainian consumer should expect a considerable price decrease for fruits and vegetables not earlier than in the second half of May. However, we expect a sharp price slump to be very probable in the next season that is undoubtedly positive news for consumers”, the expert continues.