Food prices climb in Malé as fruits and vegetables drive February spike
The Essential Commodities Price Index for Male rose by 1.54 percent in February, primarily driven by a significant 9.57 percent surge in fruit prices and a 3.46 percent increase in vegetables. While costs for beverages and cooking fuels also climbed, personal care products saw a slight decline. Given that food items represent over 70 percent of the index, these fluctuations remain the dominant factor in the city's overall essential commodity inflation.
Oranges displayed for sale at the Malé Local Market. | RaajjeMV | RaajjeMV
Food prices in Malé rose in February, largely driven by increasing costs for fruits and vegetables, according to the latest Essential Commodities Price Index (ECPI) released by the Maldives Bureau of Statistics.
The ECPI for Malé reached 116.08 in February, reflecting a 1.54 percent increase compared to January. On a year-on-year basis, prices in February were 1.04 percent higher than during the same period last year.
The food category was the main contributor to the overall rise in prices. As the cost of several commonly used items increased, the food category recorded a 2.06 percent rise compared to January. Fruit prices registered the sharpest jump, increasing by 9.57 percent, while vegetable prices rose by 3.46 percent.
In the beverages sector, prices increased by 0.15 percent in February compared to the previous month. This change was primarily driven by a 0.84 percent increase in the price of coffee and coffee substitutes, along with a 0.56 percent rise in the prices of fruit and vegetable juices.
The cost of cooking gas and other fuels also increased during February, rising by 0.85 percent.
Personal care products were the only major category to record a decline during the month, with prices falling by 0.33 percent compared to January.
Year-on-year changes in the prices of essential commodities remained moderate. Compared to February last year, food prices increased by 0.64 percent, while beverage prices rose by 2.40 percent. Personal care products also recorded a 3.28 percent increase over the past year.
Several specific food items recorded notable annual price increases. The category covering sugar, jam, honey, chocolate, and confectionery rose by 6.94 percent, while fruit prices increased by 4.94 percent and oils registered a 3.90 percent rise.
The ECPI is compiled monthly by monitoring the prices of 96 commodities across more than 2,500 outlets. Food items account for the largest share of the index, representing more than 70 percent of its total weight. As a result, fluctuations in food prices have a significant impact on overall inflation in essential commodities.
