Sofia, January 5 (BTA) - The index of wholesale food prices rose
 by 8.16 per cent to 1.604 points this past two weeks, the State
 Commission on Commodity Exchanges and Wholesale Markets said on
 Sunday. This is the first increase above 1.600 points since the
 Easter holidays in 2019, when the index reached its highest
level for the year of 1.608 points.

The index's baseline of 1 point was established in 2005.

The wholesale price of hothouse tomatoes dropped by 3.5 per cent
 to 2.22 leva/kg. Hothouse cucumbers appreciated by 2.9 per cent
 to 2.45 leva/kg. Potatoes went up by 1.4 per cent and traded at
 0.70 leva/kg. Carrots slid by 1.4 per cent and traded at 0.69
leva/kg. Cabbage lost 7 per cent and was selling at 0.53
leva/kg. Red peppers appreciated by 2.9 per cent to 2.45 leva/kg
 on average.
  
Apples cheapened by 1.8 per cent to 1.12 leva/kg. Lemons
appreciated by 4.3 per cent to 2.19 leva/kg. Bananas traded at
2.20 leva/kg and oranges, at 1.29 leva/kg. Tangerines slid by
3.2 per cent to 1.51 leva/kg.

The wholesale price of white brined cheese from cow's milk went
up by 0.8 per cent to 6.37 leva/kg. Vitosha yellow kashkaval
cheese sold at 10.60 leva/kg. Sunflower oil gained 1.0 per cent
and traded at 2.00 leva/litre. Butter from cow's milk was
selling at 2.23 leva per 125-gram pack.

Frozen chicken cheapened by 0.7 per cent to 4.04 leva/kg at the
end of the week. Sugar traded at 1.26 leva/kg. Grade 500 flour
gained 1.1 per cent to 0.95 leva/kg. Rice went down by 1.0 per
cent to 1.92 leva/kg. Eggs were available at 0.21 leva a piece
at the end of the week.

NV/DS