Prices of tea raised by up to Rs200 per kg

Unprecedented food prices amid squeezing incomes have already deprived the majority of households to afford decent breakfast, a fresh hike in tea rates both branded and loose would further make it difficult to manage a cup of tea. Packers and traders on Monday shocked consumers with Rs100 hike in 900-gram branded packs and around Rs200 per kg in loose tea. Traders said that the massive rupee devaluation during the PDM government and ongoing depreciation under the interim government set-up had made an adverse impact on the landed price of black tea imports. Since the caretaker government was set up, the greenback rate surged by 2.9pc or Rs8.64 to Rs297.13 in the interbank market. Giving an example, a retailer said the branded 170-gram pack now costs Rs350 as compared to Rs330, while the small pack now sells at Rs180 as against Rs170.