How much you might spend on food in January 2019

All things being equal, some commodities will continue to drop in prices. On the other hand, prices may continue to increase for some other commodities.

 These increases may be as a result of the scarcity of the commodity. Tomatoes continue to be a commodity of interest to be watched in the coming month.

COUNTRYWIDE ANALYSIS

Commodities traded mixed in the last month of the year 2018. Pona made a gain of 6.12% to close the year at GHS 517.50 per 100 tubers with Wheat gaining 4.66% to close at GHS 251.00 per bag.

Gari and Cassava made gains of 1.89% and 1.10% to close at GHS 177.00 and GHS 61.17 respectively. Maize also gained 1.18% to close at GHS 146.43 per bag with imported rice and soya beans gaining less than a percent point.

Tomatoes lost 9.34% to close the year at GHS 388.33 with millet losing 4.93% to close at GHS 250.43. Groundnut lost 1.82% to close at GHS 469.86 with local rice losing 1.47% to close at GHS 343.86. Cowpea white made a marginal loss of 0.26% to close at GHS 385.29

ALSO READ: Esoko hints on the way forward for Ghana Commodity Exchange

CROP ANALYSIS

Maize
The average price for a bag of maize gained 1.18% to close the month at GHS 146.43. The highest price, GHS 186, was recorded at Takoradi with the lowest price of GHS 100.00 at Bawku.

Rice Local
The average price for a bag of local rice lost 1.47% to close the month at GHS343.86. The highest price, GHS 400, was recorded at Accra with the lowest price of GHS 300.00 recorded at Tamale.

Tomato
The average price for a crate of tomato dropped 9.34% to close the month at GHS 388.33. The highest price, GHS 531, was recorded at Accra and the lowest price of GHS 280 recorded at Techiman.

Price of the commodity continues to fluctuate week on week, and it is expected that within the first week of January prices would increase and then drop again in the following week.

Data Source: Esoko