Experts predict that in the the coming year the price of bananas in Russia’s Jewish Autonomous Oblast, located in the Russian Far East, could increase by 40%. Since the beginning of autumn alone, the fruit’s price has increased by 16%.
Currently the price of this tropical fruit on supermarket shelves is in the region of between €1.43-2.00 a kilo. Mini bananas cost almost double the price: €3.00 a kilo. Lovers of this fruit are obviously upset with the increase in price, especially given the fact that 2016 is the year of the Monkey on the Eastern calendar. Experts believe that bananas have to be present on the festive table as a tribute to tradition.
According to Rosstat data, from the beginning of September bananas have increased in price by 16%. This proved to be the most significant rise amongst all varieties of fruit. For example, oranges increased by just 1.4%, pears by almost 3% and lemons 4%.
As Rossiskaya gazeta reported, banana prices rose the most in the regions. Experts explain that this is due to the fact that the price of fruit in Russia's regions varies depending on its proximity to the point of receiving the imported products.
According to analysts, the exchange rate of the dollar has not had much influence on the cost of bananas as it has not significantly changed since August. Most likely the growth in price can simply be explained by the behaviour of the sellers themselves.
With the onset of the autumn-winter period, demand for the fruit is growing, and businesses do not hesitate to raise the price tag on them. However, experts are not predicting a repetition of the March rise in prices.
Of course, Rosstat data on the whole gives an idea of the situation with rising food prices in stores, although, they are averaged. In two neighbouring stores in Birobidzhan in the Jewish Autonomous Oblast, bananas prices vary by a few cents €1.94 per kg in one and in the other - €1.88, and these shops are in fact very close and owned by the same chain!
