The cost of basic items in Abu Dhabi has gone up 12.43 per cent in July compared with June, as per the index of the emirate’s Department of Planning and Economy (DPE). The rise in prices of key items, especially fish has sent up the index, said the DPE.

The department found differences in the prices of rice at various outlets in Abu Dhabi, which showed unjustified increases.

’Investigations by DPE revealed that the prices of fish have only gone up at the Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society (ADCS), where the fish outlet is leased to a private investor who is committed to pay ADCS 10 to 20 per cent,’ the department said in a statement.

The rise in cost of ice for preserving the fish has also sent the fish prices up, it said.

Differences in costs of other items were attributed to varying quality.

An exclusive DPE index will monitor the costs of key household items during Ramadan, which will be revealed in a weekly report.