Cooking oil and lemons appreciated most this January and were up 81 per cent on a year earlier. Flour and bananas went up by about 50 per cent, according to the State Commission on Commodity Exchanges and Wholesale Markets, which analyzed January food prices, BTA reports.

Most food prices went up by about 25 to 35 per cent. The price rise for sugar, frankfurter sausages, potatoes and oranges was smaller this January than a year earlier.

The January increase in fruit and vegetable prices is part of the seasonal markup. In previous years these prices peaked at the end of winter and in early spring. Apple prices rose most in January, 17 per cent on month, followed by tomatoes and cucumbers 13-14 per cent, and tangerines, lemons and bananas between 6 and 10 per cent. Oranges and potatoes went down from December.

Lentils went up 5 per cent, beans, cooking oil, rice and flour prices rose 2-3 per cent. Milk products rose by a mere 1 per cent from December.

Chicken prices went slightly down, while sugar and eggs leveled off.

The comparison with year-earlier prices showed that except for tomatoes and cucumbers, the prices of all other foods included in the analysis were higher in 2008.