Hyderabad: Rising prices of essential commodities are squeezing household budgets in Hyderabad, forcing consumers to buy less, switch to cheaper varieties and turn to alternative grains.For instance, rice prices have surged from around ₹45 a kg to nearly ₹80, while chana, which cost ₹55 a kg in Aug, is now selling at ₹76-77 as of Monday (Oct 12), traders said.
For families spending ₹10,000-12,000 a month on groceries, rising costs of rice, pulses, sugar and cooking oil are adding to the financial strain. In Telangana, retail rice prices rose 13.3% between July and Sept, according to Union consumer affairs ministry data.“Rice remains a staple for our family, but we have started looking at cheaper varieties. We have also started buying wheat and other grains,” said Archana D, a homemaker from Gowlipura.“We are buying only what is required. Markets have already raised prices amid uncertainty, even before anything has materialised,” said Gyanchand Soliwala, a resident of Nampally.Sugar prices have climbed to ₹53-55 a kg as of Oct 12, from ₹46-48 in Sept, after touching a peak of ₹72 in Aug. Trader Sanjay Joshi attributed the latest increase to festive demand ahead of Dasara and Diwali, along with uncertainty over fresh production.“Govt reports indicate adequate stocks, but mills are reluctant to sell aggressively as they expect prices to rise further,” he said.According to traders, sugar mills have been directed to begin cane crushing from Oct 15. However, they expect operations could be delayed due to inadequate soil moisture linked to El Niño, which may affect harvesting, cane quality and sugar recovery. Some farmers are also reportedly holding back supplies in anticipation of higher prices.Joshi expects sugar prices to stabilise at ₹48-55 a kg. Authorities have tightened stock controls, cutting the wholesale limit to 1,000 quintals from 2,000 and mandating weekly stock disclosures, alongside physical inspections of mills.A family of four typically spends ₹2,500-3,000 a month on rice and cereals, ₹1,500-2,000 on pulses and ₹700-900 on sugar and other staples, leaving the balance of its grocery budget for vegetables, dairy and other provisions. Rising staple prices are forcing households to reassess these allocations.Open-market trader Mahender Vyas said rice prices had risen sharply across varieties. Sona Masoori, which sold for around ₹45 a kg at the end of Aug, is now priced at ₹70, while HMT JSR has increased from about ₹65 to ₹95.Traders warned that prices could rise another 10-20% if rainfall remains inadequate over the next 10-15 days.Manoj Kumar, who runs a kirana store in Panjagutta, expects foodgrain consumption to increase during the festive season. He said farmers were harvesting paddy, maize, soybean and sugarcane, but some produce was being withheld from the market. Traders and shopkeepers believe govt-imposed stock limits could help curb excessive hoarding and black marketing.
