Potatoes for 35 hryvnias: why vegetables in Ukraine set price records.

Prices for vegetables in Ukraine in October rose by 18.2% compared to September, but some products have become cheaper. This was reported by the State Statistics Service.

According to EastFruit, prices for potatoes at wholesale markets increased from 17 to 20 hryvnias, reaching 30-35 hryvnias in retail stores. Cabbage and onions have become more expensive by 2 hryvnias per kilogram (up to 20 and 14 hryvnias wholesale), cauliflower by 10 hryvnias (up to 40-45 hryvnias per kilogram), pumpkin - by 5 hryvnias (up to 35 hryvnias).

Analysts explained that most farms have finished harvesting, including onions. Therefore, 'fresh' produce becomes more expensive.

'Year after year, climatic conditions in Ukraine dictate the terms of seasonal price increases. This year it will be even more noticeable due to the rise in electricity prices from June 1. This factor had less impact in summer, but in October-November, prices for electricity, heat, and fuel usually become more significant in the cost of goods,' explained Vitaliy Shapran, former member of the NBU Council.

Sugar became cheaper in October by 4.2% compared to September. This is related to the sugar beet processing season by Ukrainian sugar plants. This year's harvest turned out to be quite good, and opportunities for export are limited due to the quota for duty-free sugar imports to the EU.

According to 'Minfin' monitoring, the cost of basic products in October is about 760 hryvnias, in September - 740 hryvnias. Over the month, prices have increased by 20 hryvnias, representing a 2.7% inflation rate.

Experts predict that prices in Ukraine will continue to rise. Inflation indicators may worsen by the end of November.