The changes in food prices during January are at odds with those of December 2010, said a government report.
Tomatoes, white chicken, rice and edible oil increased in price, while local and imported fresh meat, as well as fresh and frozen fish, remained relatively stable, according to the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) monthly report.
The only drop was in sugar prices, it said.
The report said the average increase in white chicken prices was 14.3 percent for one kilo, as it rose from LE14.56 in December to LE16.75 in January. The average price for local rice rose by 6 percent, from LE3.33 in December to LE3.53, it noted. The price for a kilo of tomatoes rose from LE2 in December to LE2.09, an increase of 4.5 percent. January also saw an increase in egg prices by 5.3 percent, with one egg selling for 60 piasters, instead of December's price of 57 piasters.
On the other hand, according to the report, suger prices declined from LE5.74 in December to LE5.24 in January, a drop of 8.7 percent.