TEHRAN The wholesale price index of goods in Iran during the month of Esfand (February 20-March 20) reached 786.1, up nearly by 11.6 percent, compared to the Esfand of the previous year. The report by the statistics department of the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) indicate that the wholesale price index for foodstuff jumped by a whopping 18.2 percent compared to that of last Esfand. In Esfand, the index for agricultural and livestock products registered an increase of about 15.1 percent and that for construction material showed a 3.7 percent increase compared to the respective indices in the esfand of the previous year, the CBI report added.

Another report said that the retail prices of red meat, poultry and sugar showed 1.3, 8.4 and 0.7 percent decreases respectively during april 10-16 compared to preceding week, the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) reported on Saturday. The report said that prices of dairy products declined by 1.3 percent, of eggs by 8.5 percent and of rice by 0.1 percent in the said week compared to the preceding week.

According to the CBI report, the prices of beans, fresh fruits, vegetables and tea increased in the said week compared to the preceding week.