The Esoko-GNA Commodity Index, EGCI-R, which refers to the retail price component, moved from 21900 the previous week to 21800 points in the week under review, whereas EGCI-W, the wholesale component moved from 19000 the previous week, to 19000 in the week under review.

Soya beans, cowpea (white), millet (grain) and wheat (grain) remained stable in wholesale trading in the week ended July 12, 2013. Stable prices were witnessed in most markets.

In this regard, the average wholesale price of soya beans sold at Ghc1.07 a kilo, cowpeas, the white variety, selling at Ghc1.91 a kilo, millet (grain) selling at Ghc1.46 a kilo and wheat (grain) selling at Ghc2.7 a kilo.

However, tomatoes (cooking) continued its upsurge run in the week. In the Agbogbloshie market, the wholesale price of the 52kg crate rose significantly.

The commodity, which was sold in the previous week for Ghc3.85 at that market, sold for Ghc4.81 in the week under review. This represented a 25 per cent increase in the price of the commodity in the Agbogbloshie market. However, the price dipped in the Takoradi market by 7 per cent, falling from Ghc5.38 a crate the previous week to Ghc5.00 in the week under review.

Generally, the weekly Esoko-GNA Commodity Index (EGCI) market survey conducted in major regional centres in the country on July 12 revealed that while the prices of some commodities recorded a reduction during the current week as against the previous week, others saw a marginal increase.

In some instances, commodity prices remained unchanged as at July 12, remaining at the same levels as they were last week.

For instance, a sack of onions which sold at Ghc250 last week in the Agbogbloshie, Mallam Atta, Madina and other market centres in Accra, went for Ghc270 in the week under review.

Also, a large crate of tomatoes which was selling at Ghc430.00 about two weeks ago, dropped to Ghc400.00 in the week under review. Similarly, a bag of cowpea went for Ghc200.00 the previous week but sold at Ghc180.00 as at July 12.

In Koforidua, prices of staple foods continued to drop in the week under review as compared to the previous weeks. The situation has been attributed to the onset of rains, as well as the beginning of the current harvest season.

Prices of foodstuffs such as cassava, cocoyam and plantain that went high in previous weeks on the market, ropped in the week under review.

For example, cassava and cocoyam that were heaped for Ghc5.00 as the minimum in the past two weeks, but sold for Ghc1 and Ghc2 on July 12, depending on the quantity.

The price of yam remained high as compared to price levels that prevailed a couple of weeks ago. This has been attributed to the fact that the old stock is now running out of supply whiles the newly harvested yam is also scarce and expensive.

esoko Wholesale Prices (GH¢) Average Unit Standard local weight Accra Bawku Kumasi Tamale Techiman Takoradi Dambai this week last week Cassava(Fresh Tubers) 1kg 91kg 0.66 N/A 0.46 0.99 0.33 0.77 0.55 0.63 0.64 Cassava (Gari) 1kg 68kg 1.62 1.10 2.57 1.71 1.21 1.91 1.71 1.69 1.73 Cowpea (White) 1kg 109kg 2.66 1.61 1.51 2.07 1.47 2.39 1.65 1.91 1.91 Groundnut (shelled) 1kg 82kg 3.78 3.35 3.29 2.39 2.44 3.66 3.12 3.15 3.13 Maize (white, grain) 1kg 100kg 0.70 0.55 0.72 0.44 0.65 1.10 0.76 0.70 0.69 Millet (grain) 1kg 93kg 1.88 1.24 1.29 1.25 1.18 2.15 1.25 1.46 1.46 Rice (imported-unclesam) 1kg 50kg 3.40 N/A 3.28 N/A 3.20 3.30 N/A 3.30 3.33 Rice (local-white) 1kg 100kg 2.10 1.75 1.40 1.41 1.50 1.26 1.96 1.63 1.62 Soya Beans 1kg 109kg 1.47 0.60 1.10 0.70 0.92 1.83 0.88 1.07 1.07 Tomato (cooking) 1kg 52kg 4.81 1.73 1.92 4.42 1.81 5.00 3.08 3.25 3.19 Wheat (Grain) 1kg 50kg 2.80 1.90 2.80 2.88 2.60 3.20 N/A 2.70 2.70 Yam (pona-medium) 1kg 250kg 1.80 N/A 1.12 N/A 1.60 1.12 1.36 1.40 1.33 Week ending 12th July Retail Prices (GH¢/Kg) Average Accra Bawku Kumasi Tamale Techiman Takoradi Dambai this week last week Cassava (Fresh Tubers) 0.80 1.50 0.71 1.00 0.50 1.00 0.60 0.87 0.89 Cassava (Gari) 1.81 1.17 3.00 1.76 1.30 3.00 1.76 1.97 2.00 Cowpea (White) 2.80 1.65 1.85 2.20 1.60 3.00 1.70 2.11 2.24 Groundnut (shelled) 3.91 3.41 3.85 2.43 3.00 3.50 3.17 3.32 3.26 Maize (white, grain) 0.80 0.48 0.92 0.48 0.64 1.65 0.80 0.82 0.82 Millet ( grain) 2.00 1.29 1.40 1.29 1.36 2.50 1.29 1.59 1.60 Rice (imported-unclesam) 3.60 N/A 3.80 N/A 3.40 4.50 N/A 3.83 3.98 Rice (local-white) 2.20 1.80 1.62 1.46 1.60 2.80 2.00 1.93 1.94 Soya Beans 1.60 0.98 1.50 0.73 1.00 2.40 0.91 1.30 1.30 Tomato (cooking) 5.19 2.50 2.22 4.00 1.70 5.00 6.00 3.80 3.82 Wheat (Grain) 3.20 2.00 3.60 2.52 2.80 3.50 N/A 2.94 2.92 Yam (pona-medium) 1.88 N/A 1.17 N/A 1.70 2.00 1.50 1.65 1.63