Bulgaria's basic food prices rise at wholesale level

Prices for basic food products in Bulgaria have continued rising at the wholesale level, according to a weekly analysis by the State Commission for Commodity Exchanges and Markets. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI), which tracks changes in food commodity prices, increased by 0.82% to 2,343 points, up from 2,324 points the previous week. The baseline for the index is set at 1,000 points from 2005.

Among vegetables, tomatoes saw the steepest price jump—16.83% higher at €1.86 per kilogram. Green bell peppers also rose sharply by 14.99% to €1.12/kg, while red bell peppers climbed 3.54% to €1.23/kg. Squash increased by 4.46% to €0.89/kg, and mature onion prices went up 2.79% to €0.59/kg. Vegetables that dropped in price were lettuce, falling 6.76% to €0.69/kg, carrots (5.49% down to €0.62/kg), cucumbers (5.18% to €1.50/kg), potatoes (4.84% to €0.59/kg), and cabbage (2.83% to €0.55/kg).

In the fruit category, only apples saw a price increase, 6.4% higher at €1.13/kg. Grapes, however, dropped 6.16% to €1.28/kg, while lemons fell 3.8% to €1.52/kg and bananas declined 2.03% to €1.45/kg.

Dairy products showed mixed trends. Cow’s cheese rose 0.23% to €6.13/kg, and Vitosha-type kaşkaval cheese increased 0.15% to €9.50/kg. Sour milk (3%+ fat) climbed 1.39% to €0.73 per 400g carton, and fresh milk went up 0.67% to €1.21/liter. The only dairy product to drop was butter, now priced at €1.35 per 125g pack, a 4.53% decline.

Meat and grains also reflected price shifts. Frozen chicken meat rose 0.9% to €3.60/kg, while egg prices remained unchanged at €0.19 per large (M) egg. Rice increased 5% to €1.68/kg, and sugar climbed 2.17% to €0.94/kg. Dried beans fell 0.76% to €2.10/kg, and lentils dropped 0.2% to €2.02/kg. Olive oil saw a 1.64% rise to €1.74/liter, while wheat flour (type 500) dropped sharply by 10.03% to €0.61/kg.