Prices of groceries may see a slight uptick in the coming days owing to the hike in fuel prices, say traders. The prices remained steady so far because of the good harvest taking place across the country, but that may change soon, they claim.

In the wake of the West Asia crisis, oil marketing companies began hiking fuel prices from May 15. In Salem, petrol price has crossed ₹108 a litre and diesel prices, ₹100 a litre.

S.C. Natarajan, president of Salem Shevapet Maligai and Shop Varthaga Nala Sangam, said urad dal comes to Salem market from Andhra Pradesh. Currently, freight charge for urad dal a kg is ₹1.80. Owing to the fuel price hike, it rose to ₹2.25 a kg. As such, urad dal price may increase by 50 paise a kg, he said.

Likewise, freight charge for toor dal, which comes to Salem from Karnataka, is currently ₹2.10 a kg, but it may rise to ₹2.50 a kg. Freight charges for peanuts, which comes to Salem from Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh, is ₹4.50 a kg, but it may jump to ₹4.75–₹5 a kg.

As for garlic, which comes to Salem from Madhya Pradesh, the freight charge is ₹7 a kg, but it may rise to ₹7.50 a kg. He, however, added that a kilogram of garlic was sold for over ₹200 a decade ago, but now it sells for ₹120–₹150 a kg based on quality.

Millet prices might not increase significantly because of the good harvest in Tamil Nadu this year.

Mr. Natarajan added that retail prices of the commodities might differ by 10% owing to variables like shop rent; loading and unloading charges; local body taxes; and power charges.