April 14 2011, 15:24 Fruit-Inform

Fruit and vegetable prices 20% higher in Kyiv than anywhere else in Ukraine

In comparison with other cities in Ukraine, fruit and vegetable prices in Kyiv are 20% higher.

As GolosUA reported, this was said by Andriy Yarmak, Head of Fruit-Inform Project, during press-conference in Kyiv.

“A difference in fruit and vegetable prices between Lviv and Kyiv is about 14% (if taking into account only supermarket chains). And if taking into account prices in Ukraine on the whole, then this difference is higher and reaches 20% in this season”, the expert said.

According to him, such a situation has emerged due to the fact that products, before appearance on the markets of Kyiv, have to pass through several resellers who increase prices for them. Mr. Yarmak also noted that the second reason of higher prices is lack of large wholesale distribution center in Kyiv, where producers could directly fix prices themselves.

He added that more often there is a monopoly of one or several overpricing buyers-up at distribution centers in Kyiv. The expert gave an example: last year wholesale prices for sweet cherries in Kyiv were higher than retail ones in Lviv.

According to Mr. Yarmak, the same situation in Kyiv is observed also with meat and fish. He stressed that, for example in Lviv, prices for these products are 20% lower thanks to existing wholesale distribution center “Shuvar Market”.

As it was previously reported, according to the results of the population survey, the financial standing of 73.9% of Kyiv residents worsened in the last year. At present, one in fifteen households (6.5%) lacks money for food, and two in five households (41.8%) have difficulties in buying clothes and footwear.

According to estimates of Marketing Researches Department of UTG (Ukrainian Trade Guild), food products now account for 41% of Kyiv residents' expenses.