A comprehensive analysis of retail and wholesale markets in Rangpur over the past three months—spanning late August, September, and October—reveals varied trends in essential commodity prices. While vegetables have seen some relief due to the arrival of winter produce, fluctuations in spices, flour, and overall living costs continue to strain middle and lower-income families.

Vegetable Market Trends and Winter Arrivals:

From late August through October, the vegetable market experienced notable shifts. Cardinal potatoes, which sold for Tk 22–25 per kg in late August, dropped to Tk 18–20 by late October, while white local potatoes fell to Tk 20–25. Tomatoes and carrots spiked to Tk 170–180 in late October before settling at Tk 120–140 per kg. Beans saw a significant drop from Tk 180–200 in September down to Tk 80–100 per kg by the end of October. Other items like teasel gourd (kankrol), ridge gourd (jhinga), and cauliflower maintained varied prices between Tk 40 and Tk 60 per kg. Green chili prices fluctuated frequently, peaking at Tk 120–130 in September before dropping to Tk 80–90 per kg in late October. Meanwhile, local onions remained relatively stable at Tk 45–50 per kg over the three months, whereas ginger dropped from Tk 220–240 down to Tk 130–160 per kg.

Meat, Poultry, and Egg Prices:

Broiler chicken remained steady at Tk 170–180 per kg across the months, while Sonali chicken sold around Tk 300–320. Red poultry eggs hovered between Tk 46 and Tk 50 per hali (four pieces), drawing complaints from lower-income consumers struggling with protein intake. Beef and mutton prices remained completely stable over the three months, selling at Tk 720–750 and Tk 1,000–1,100 per kg respectively. Fish prices also showed minimal change, with Rui selling at Tk 250–450 and Pangas at Tk 150–200 per kg.