Kathmandu, June 28 -- Wholesale prices of most food items have declined by Rs10-15 but customers continue to pay through the nose with retailers hiking prices on the pretext of higher transportation and labour costs.

Sanjay Phuyal, a wholesale trader said that the prices of rice have declined by Rs2 per kg while the prices of most lentils have also declined by Rs5 per kg including legumes by Rs10-15 and edible oil by Rs5. Wholesale prices have dropped with the decrease in demand as commercial operations are still closed due to lockdown measures.

Raj Kumar Shrestha, president of Nepal Retailers Association said that prices of food items such as rice, lentils, legumes and edible oil have increased by Rs10-15 even though the government has...