A national survey of wholesale prices in China shows that the average price of 19 kinds of vegetable increased by 3.69 yuan [0.54 USD] per kg in 286 production areas throughout China last week. The price increased by 7.3% in comparison with the previous week and by 21.4% in comparison with the same period in the previous year.
The overall price of vegetables in Lanzhou is already about 20% higher this year than it was last year. Quite a few leaf vegetables sold for 3 yuan [0.44 USD] more than they did in August. The retail prices of lettuce, spinach, and water spinach even increased by 7 yuan [1.02 USD] per 0.5 kg. The most expensive of the leaf vegetables, however, is the coriander, which in some markets sold for 20 yuan [2.93 USD] per 0.5 kg.
The reasons for the recent vegetable price increase are, according to the Lanzhou Price Bureau, bad weather and seasonal price increase. The entire country suffered from high temperatures and excessive rainfall in July and August, which further stimulated the vegetable price increase in the Lanzhou market.
Source: Lanzhou Evening News