VINACHEM

The petrol price has fallen fourfold by a total of VND1,900 per litres but consumer goods remain unchanged, partly caused by higher transportation fees, Tin tuc (News) newspaper reported yesterday.

Transport fees can account for 10-15 per cent of the price of goods. Though petrol prices fell last month several times, transport prices were not adjusted.

Vu Vinh Phu, chairman of Ha Noi supermarket association, said that prices of food and vegetables had not changed.

A supermarket in Ha Dong region said household appliances had seen higher prices because of increased transportation fees. Suppliers are not offering lower prices even though petrol charges have fallen.

Kim Xuyen of Nam Thanh Cong House Complex in Ha Noi said lean pork was priced at VND100,000 (US$4.8) per kg, beef VND240,000 ($11.4) per kg, and carp VND70,000-80,000 ($3.3-3.8) per kg. These stayed the same throughout August.

Xuyen said: "I do not understand why food prices do not drop while petrol prices have decreased."

She said that when petrol prices went up, sellers increased prices.

At the Truong Dinh market in Hoang Mai District, egg prices jumped by VND500 -700 each a month ago, but now are unchanged.

For instance, industrial chicken eggs are VND2,200 each and duck eggs are VND3,200 each.

Small traders at the Hom market in Hai Ba Trung District said that vegetable prices had increased slightly.

Bui Danh Lien, chairman of Ha Noi Transport Association, said that transport businesses had suffered high costs, such as electricity fees, road fees, and parking fees. Thus, transportation fees will not fall as quickly as petrol prices.

Transport firms frequently readjust their fees. When the petrol prices increase or decrease by 10 per cent, they consider an adjustment.

Lien also said if transport firms reduce fees, the firms could face losses if they cut prices. Goods prices in supermarkets are more stable, but prices in traditional markets fluctuate more.