As more and more people dash off to the kitchen markets today to do the last-minute shopping for special Eid food, traders are set to push the prices up further, market sources said.

The prices of liquid milk and milk power, vermicelli, butter oil, soybean, onion, garlic and other spices, fine rice, chicken, beef and mutton have all spiked sharply.

Prices of liquid milk and milk power have gone up 40 percent in the city markets. Milk Vita liquid milk was selling at Tk 32 a litre yesterday, which was Tk 26 a week back. Half a kg of Milk Vita milk powder sold at Tk 110 yesterday, which was Tk 90 two weeks back.

The vermicelli prices hit a record high this year and were at Tk 70 a kg yesterday.

"We are selling loose vermicelli at Tk 50 a kg, up from Tk 35 last year. The prices of different brands of vermicelli available in packs are also high. A 400 gm pack is now priced at Tk 28," said a trader in the city's Karwan Bazar kitchen market yesterday.

Broiler chicken sold at Tk 75 a kg yesterday, which was Tk 60 a week ago. A kg of local variety chicken sold at Tk130 yesterday, up from Tk 100 a week ago.

Mutton sold at Tk 160 a kg yesterday against Tk 140 a week ago. Beef was priced at Tk 100 yesterday, which was Tk 90 a kg last week.

"Meat prices may go up further as most people will rush to the market tomorrow (today). We have limited stock, so the prices of tomorrow will depend on the demand," said a trader at a Mirpur market.

Fine rice (polao) sold at Tk 36 a kg yesterday, which was Tk 28 a month back.

With the increase in the prices of soybean and palm oil, the prices of different brands of butter oil have gone up substantially this year.

Retailers were selling half a kg of canned butter oil at Tk 150 yesterday, which was Tk 140 a month ago.

The onion prices have hit the highest this season as the local variety sold at Tk 34 a kg and Indian variety at Tk 24, up from Tk 30 and Tk 22 two weeks ago.

The local variety of garlic had a price tag of Tk 70 a kg yesterday, which was Tk 58 two weeks ago, while imported garlic sold at Tk 40 a kg against Tk 30 two weeks ago.

The prices of spices have also gone up substantially, with cumin seeds (zira) selling at Tk 110 a kg yesterday. It sold at Tk 90 a kg a month back.

People of the low-income bracket and the poor will have to cut down on the number of special food items on the Eid day to adjust with price hikes. It should not be a problem for the rich.

"I was planning to add a few new items on the list of special foods on the Eid day. As the prices of most items went up sharply I had to throw my plan in the rubbish basket," said a housewife in the city's Dhanmondi area.