THE recent decline in diesel and LPG prices should have brought some relief to consumers struggling with high food prices. Instead, households continue to pay exorbitant rates for vegetables, wheat flour and other kitchen essentials. The failure of lower transport costs to translate into cheaper food again exposes the inefficiencies and distortions that plague Pakistan’s retail markets. Some of the increases are understandable. Tomato prices have surged because supplies are currently short due to seasonal factors. However, seasonal factors do not explain why retail rates remain elevated across a broader range of commodities despite a substantial reduction........

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