In recent days, gasoline prices have been adjusted upwards, causing many people to worry that transportation costs will lead to an increase in food and essential goods prices. However, records at some people's markets in Hanoi on March 8 show that the prices of many essential goods are still stable, and there has not been a situation of "following the tide".
At some people's markets in Dong Anh commune, vegetable and meat and fish stalls are still bustling with buyers and sellers. Many small traders said that commodity prices after Tet have gradually stabilized again, without significant fluctuations even though the cost of transportation to get goods has increased somewhat due to gasoline prices.
Ms. Bui Thi Hanh - a small trader selling beef at Dong Tru market (Dong Anh commune) - shared that the current meat price is still stable compared to recent weeks. Beef shank is about 280,000 VND/kg, and beef tenderloin is about 300,000 VND/kg...
According to Ms. Hanh, the increase in gasoline prices has a certain impact on transportation costs, especially for small traders who have to travel far to get goods at slaughterhouses or wholesale markets. However, the increase in costs is not large enough to force sellers to adjust prices.
When gasoline prices increase, the cost of transportation to get goods also increases slightly, but not much. If prices increase immediately, customers will also find it difficult to buy, so we still try to keep prices stable as before" - Ms. Hanh said.
She also added that at the time near Tet, shopping demand is high, so meat prices sometimes rise, but after Tet, the market has gradually stabilized again. "Now the quantity of goods is regular, and customers buying are also moderate, so the selling price is kept at a stable level" - she shared.
In the seafood selling area, fish prices have not changed much. Mr. Do Van Dung - a small trader selling fish at the market - said that tilapia is currently sold at about 50,000 VND/kg, grass carp is about 70,000 VND/kg...
According to Mr. Dung, the supply of fish at this time is quite abundant, so the price remains stable. Although gasoline and oil costs have increased, most of the goods are transported together by large vehicles from farming areas to the market, so the cost for each small trader does not increase too much.
If gasoline increases, transportation will definitely be more expensive, but currently it has not affected fish prices much. If the source of goods is still abundant as it is now, the price will still be maintained as it is now" - Mr. Dung said.
He also believes that sellers always consider before adjusting prices. "Customers going to the market are very sensitive to prices. Just increasing a few thousand VND/kg is considered by them, so small traders must also maintain stable prices to sell goods" - he said.
Ms. Dao Thu Tuyet - a small trader selling fruit at Dong Tru market (Dong Anh commune) said that for fruit, the price of some types is also stable such as king oranges about 25,000 VND/kg, red apples about 60,000 VND/kg, dragon fruit about 50,000 VND/kg, watermelon about 30,000 VND/kg...
The increase in gasoline prices also affects picking up goods, but fruits are in season, so there are quite a lot of goods. Customers going to the market buy retail in small quantities, so we still maintain stable prices to sell easily" - Ms. Tuyet shared.
Also recorded at Gia Lam market (Hanoi), at the vegetable stall, the prices of many popular items are also kept at a fairly soft level. Ms. Le Thi Lan - a vegetable trader - said that vegetables are currently quite abundant due to favorable weather.
Ms. Lan shared that kohlrabi currently costs about 5,000 VND/bulb, chayote about 20,000 VND/kg, beans about 25,000 VND/kg, water spinach about 10,000 VND/bunch, tomatoes about 10,000 VND/kg...
According to Ms. Lan, in the period near Tet, the prices of some items once increased slightly due to high shopping demand, but after Tet, the market quickly returned to a stable state.
After Tet, there are many sources of goods, so vegetable prices are quite stable. When gasoline prices increase, traveling to get goods also costs a little more, but not to the point of having to increase selling prices" - Ms. Lan expressed.
