Basic food items are experiencing retail price increases. From the data published by INSTAT, products such as fruits and vegetables, and even meat have become more expensive compared to a year ago.

With a double-digit percentage increase, a kilogram of onion is sold for 108 lek from 70 lek that was a year ago, becoming more expensive by 54%.

The price of potatoes has also increased, which is 40% more expensive today, being sold at 97 Lek per kilogram from 69 Lek sold last year.

Tomatoes and peppers have increased by an average of 20% while dairy products such as butter and cheese, compared to a year ago, reflect a more expensive price of over 25% on average. Thus, a kilogram of white cheese, from 692 Lek in 2022, is sold today for 880 Lek.

Fruits such as apples and oranges have become more expensive by over 15%.

Meat, on the other hand, has become more expensive by over 10%, where a kilogram of chicken costs 50 lek more than a year ago.

The tightening of the basic items comes as a result of the problems and difficulties encountered by the domestic production. Climate change, the reduction of cattle herds, and the mass export of harvests have caused a failure to meet market demand and an increase in prices. On the other hand, the almost 30% increase in the number of foreign visitors has increased demand in the domestic market, causing an increase in prices.

Meanwhile, sunflower oil is the only product that recorded a large drop in price by 34% as a result of the price drop in international markets.