[Looking at China in the World of Fireworks] The taste of the new year is getting stronger, the price of pork and eggs has been reduced, and the price of vegetables continues to be "friendly"
Chinanews.com, January 6th (Chinanews Finance and Economics reporter Xie Yiguan) "Don't be greedy, children, after Laba, it will be a new year."
The Lunar New Year is getting closer and closer, and every household is also preparing to purchase new year's goods.
What is the current price of pork and eggs, and whether the price of vegetables is "friendly to the people", a reporter from China New Finance and Economics recently went to many supermarkets and vegetable markets in Beijing to feel the prices of the "vegetable basket".
Pork prices sit on the "slide"
"I bought pork a few days ago and found that the price of pork has dropped a bit, and the lean meat is less than 20 yuan per catty." Xiaoyu, who lives in Beijing, said.
As Xiaoyu said, the reporter went to a vegetable market in Xicheng District, Beijing on the 4th. A pork vendor also mentioned that the price of pork has dropped recently. "Now the price of pork is 17 yuan a catty. They are 22 yuan and 20 yuan per catty, respectively."
In a supermarket in Xicheng District, the price of pork is slightly more expensive than the above-mentioned vegetable market. The price tag shows that the price of the front and back is 19.8 yuan per catty, and the price of pork belly is 25.8 yuan per catty.
In a large supermarket in Fengtai District, Beijing, the price of premium front and rear ribs is 18.98 yuan per catty, and the price of premium small tenderloin is 29.98 yuan per catty.
The picture shows the pork section of a supermarket in Fengtai District, Beijing.
Photo by China-Singapore Finance and Economics reporter Xie Yiguan
Not only in Beijing, residents in many places also reported that the price of pork has dropped.
"The pork belly I bought recently is 18.9 yuan per catty, and the back elbow meat is 18 yuan per catty, which are cheaper than before." Mr. Wang from Jiaozhou, Shandong, told reporters.
The price drop of "Second Senior Brother" is also reflected in the statistics.
According to the monitoring of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in the 52nd week of 2022 (December 26, 2022-January 1, 2023), the weekly average price of the domestic pork wholesale market is 26.02 yuan per kilogram, a month-on-month decrease of 4.8%, which is the 8th consecutive week of decline. 11.4% higher year-on-year.
Li Xia, an agricultural analyst at Zhuo Chuang Information, told the reporter of China New Finance and Economics that the number of pig farms sold by the group has increased month-on-month, and the supply of standard pigs is abundant. The lack of personnel in the link, the further weakening of the downstream receiving capacity, and the serious imbalance between supply and demand have led to a continuous decline in pig prices.
"However, as consumption picks up in some areas in the north and south, the digestion speed of live pigs is accelerating. At the same time, breeding units in low-price areas are reluctant to sell. The price of live pigs has bottomed out in late December 2022, and there may still be room for growth before the Spring Festival." Li Xia. say.
Egg prices fall for 9th straight week
Driven by high cost and low supply, the price of eggs has been at a high level before. Entering November 2022, the price of eggs has also begun a "falling journey".
According to the monitoring of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in the 52nd week of 2022, the weekly average price of eggs in the wholesale market is 10.99 yuan per kilogram, a month-on-month decrease of 5.1%, a slight decline for 9 consecutive weeks, and a year-on-year increase of 10.6%.
A reporter from Zhongxin Finance and Economics noticed in the above-mentioned vegetable market that the price of bulk eggs is 6 yuan per catty, which is nearly 1 yuan cheaper than last year's high price.
In the aforementioned supermarket in Xicheng District, Beijing, the price of eggs is 5.68 yuan per catty, and the price has also dropped from a high level.
Egg prices in a supermarket in Xicheng District, Beijing.
Photo by China-Singapore Finance and Economics reporter Xie Yiguan
Mr. Wang, who often goes shopping in supermarkets, also found that the price of eggs has dropped a bit compared to before.
"Now the market price of eggs is 5.95 yuan per catty, and when the event is held, the limit is 5.55 yuan for 2 catties."
In Li Xia's view, this is mainly due to the fact that the decline in demand for eggs is greater than the decline in supply.
"Although the logistics and transportation in December 2022 will be smoother than in November, the mobility of personnel will be reduced. Superimposed on the early holidays of schools and some enterprises, the stocking up for the Spring Festival in the terminal market has not yet arrived. Multiple factors have caused the demand to fall short of expectations, and the price of eggs continues to be weak."
Li Xia believes that as the stocking up for the Spring Festival is approaching, the end market demand is expected to increase, and the price of eggs may have some room to rise before the Spring Festival.
Vegetable prices are still relatively "people-friendly"
The prices of pork and eggs have continued to decline recently. After the "trough" price of vegetables last winter, the overall price has risen recently, but it is still relatively "people-friendly".
According to the monitoring of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, in the 52nd week of 2022, the weekly average price of 28 kinds of vegetables under monitoring is 5.00 yuan per kilogram, a month-on-month increase of 4.2%, and a year-on-year decrease of 1.2%.
Taking common vegetables in winter as an example, the reporter noticed in the Xicheng District supermarket mentioned above that white radish is 1.18 yuan per catty, Chinese cabbage is 0.98 yuan per catty, green onion is 2.98 yuan per catty, potato is 2.88 yuan per catty, and tomato is 3.58 yuan per catty.
In the above vegetable market, the price of Chinese cabbage is as low as 0.8 yuan per catty.
The picture shows the vegetable section of a supermarket in Xicheng District, Beijing.
Photo by China-Singapore Finance and Economics reporter Xie Yiguan
Regarding the recent increase in vegetable prices, Li Xia said, "In winter, the production of open-air vegetables in the north has ended, and the domestic market relies more on the supply of vegetables from northern facilities. Overall, the increase in labor and freight costs in winter will support vegetable prices to a certain extent. And Due to high freight costs, shortage of vehicles and other reasons, the "south-north vegetable transport" has decreased, which may lead to a decrease in the quantity of vegetables and an increase in prices."
"With the arrival of the peak demand season during the Spring Festival, it is expected that the vegetable price index will still rise before the Spring Festival." Li Xia said, but this year's vegetable planting area in the north and south is higher than the same period last year, which may restrict the increase in vegetable prices.
When the "vegetable basket" stabilizes the price and guarantees the supply
The end of the new year is approaching, and the recent national level is also deploying "vegetable baskets" to stabilize prices and ensure supply.
The executive meeting of the State Council held on the 3rd proposed to ensure sufficient market supply and stable prices during the Spring Festival.
It is necessary to further consolidate the "rice bag" governor responsibility system and the "vegetable basket" mayor responsibility system, do a good job in market allocation in a timely manner, enrich the variety of small-package grains and oils, strengthen the transportation of vegetables from the south to the north, and the transportation of fruits from the west to the east, and make reasonable adjustments to reserves. Do a good job in the production and supply and marketing of other important livelihood commodities.
Recently, the General Office of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and the General Office of the State Council issued the "Notice on Doing a Good Job During the New Year's Day and Spring Festival in 2023", which mentioned that it is necessary to do a good job in ensuring the supply and price stability of important livelihood commodities such as grain, oil, meat, eggs, milk, fruits and vegetables, and continuously enrich the festival. market supply.
Formulate an emergency plan for guaranteeing the supply of daily necessities, strengthen market monitoring and early warning, and increase reserves in a timely manner.
Many places are also strengthening the guarantee of the supply of daily necessities during the festival.
For example, Qinghai not only plans to release 404 tons of frozen pork and 524.8 tons of frozen beef and mutton during the "two festivals" period, but also decides to supply cheap vegetables and eggs at key suppliers' supermarkets and cheap vegetable stores during the Spring Festival.
The spokesperson of the National Development and Reform Commission said a few days ago that the Spring Festival is an important festival in my country and it is also the peak season for residents' consumption. It is particularly important to ensure the supply and price stability of important livelihood commodities.
Judging from the current scheduling of work in various places, major and medium-sized cities have generally formulated contingency plans for ensuring supply and stabilizing prices. The reserves of finished grain, oil, pork, and northern winter and spring vegetables are relatively sufficient, and the work of ensuring supply and stabilizing prices is solid.
(use up)