By Fatoumata K. Jallow
From 2003 to date, the prices of all the basic food commodities in the
market have increased by three fold and still continue to hike. This
comparison of prices was recently done by this reporter who visited
the markets in the main urban and peri urban centres of Banjul,
Serekunda and Brikama.On 24 January 2003, the price of a bag of rice in Banjul and Serekunda
was fetched at D375 and in Brikama it was between D370 and 375, while
the retail price per cup was D2.00 across the board. After 12 years,
the price for the cheapest bag of rice today stands at D1100 in all
the three centres and the retail price per cup is D6, representing more than
a three fold increase or three hundred percent.
In 2003, the 830g tin of tomato paste was at D35 in the three places,
while the retail price per spoon was D15 in both Banjul and Serekunda and
D15 or D20 in Brikama. The price for the 830g tin has risen in 2016 to
D80 in all the three places, while the cost per spoon is D5.00 in the
said places. As for the 400g tin, it has increased from D15 in Banjul
and Serekunda, and D15 or D20 in Brikama to D35 in all the said
places. Fresh tomatoes per measure was D2.00 upwards and now it is
D5.00
Twelve years ago, a bag of onions was costing D250 in Banjul and D245
in both Serekunda and Brikama. Today it is D450 in Banjul, D400 in
Serekunda and D450 in Brikama. Onion per measure was D2.00 then and
now it is D35.
The 5 litres container was costing D150 in Banjul and Serekunda and D160 in
Brikama and now it is costing D300 in the three centres. Its retail price per
cup was between D5.50 and D6.00 in all the three places but now it is
D11 in Banjul and D10 in both Serekunda and Brikama.
Palm oil per cup was D8.00 in Banjul, D7.50 or D8.00 in Serekunda and
D7.00 in Brikama. Today the price is D20 in Banjul and D18 in both
Serekunda and Brikama.
Bonga, the cheapest fish in the market at all times, was D5.00 per set in
Banjul and D2.50 in Serekunda and Brikama. Twelve years on, the price
of Bonga fish is D15 in Banjul and Brikama and D10 in Serekunda.
Twelve years ago, imported chicken legs per carton was D385 in Banjul
and D380 in Serekunda and Brikama, while in 2016 it is D750 in Banjul
and D730 in Serekunda and Brikama. The price per chicken leg was then
D15 in all three places but is now D45 in Banjul and between D35 and
D40 in both Serekunda and Brikama.
The price of moist crystal sugar per bag was D430, D425 and D420 in
Banjul, Serekunda and Brikama respectively but now it has increased to
D1, 200 in Banjul and D1150 in Serekunda and Brikama. The price per
cup was D2.50 in the three places and now it has increased to D8.00.
Meat and bone which was D50 in all the three places in 2003 has now
increased to D200. As for beef steak, it increased from D60 to D225.
