By Innocent Mujeri
A market survey on prices and availability of basic commodities conducted by Harare Post between 11 and 17 November 2019 revealed that there is a mixed movement of prices of basic commodities in major supermarkets.
The survey unearthed that the major supermarkets have enough stock of basic commodities. However, the prices of goods continue to fluctuate with some marginally retreating.
Prices of basic commodities such as cooking oil and Gloria flour have slightly decreased from their previous pricing.
In Spar Supermarket, the price of two litres of Zim Gold cooking oil has decreased from ZWL $70.99 to $67.99 while two kilograms of Gloria flour has gone down from ZWL $52.00 to $45.00.
The same survey revealed that prices of some basic goods remained unchanged. In the major supermarkets, the prices of commodities such as beef, rice, green bar soap and salt have remained unchanged.
The cost of bread has remained in the range of between ZWL $14.00 and $15.00 despite threats from bakers that they might increase bread price in retaliation to Grain Marketing Board’s (GMB) 67 percent increase in the price of wheat sold to bakers.
However, the demand of bread has remained depressed as the commodity is no longer running out in most shops.
Meanwhile, a marginal increase in the prices of some goods was also noted. The survey revealed that a crate of mixed eggs has increased by 40 percent from an average of ZWL $58.49 to a new average of ZWL $81.99.
Other commodities that have increased in price include Omo washing powder which increased by 9.3%, Colgate by 4, 9%, Cremora by 3, 8%, Red Seal Roller meal by 3% and Boom washing powder by 1, 3% percent.
However, prices of most basic goods are set to decrease as Government has introduced subsidies on most basic commodities to cushion consumers from exorbitant prices charged by some greedy retailers.
The reduction of the Value Added Tax (VAT) from the current 15 to 14, 5 percent is also expected to cause price reduction of most basic commodities as retailers are expected to adjust to the new tax regime accordingly.
