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Highlights
Seasonal Factors, Exchange Rate, and Trade: The onset of winter continues to constrain local market supply, increasing reliance on imported food commodities and contributing to mild upward pressure on prices. Trade disruptions following the closure of the Torkham crossing have halted inflows from Pakistan, including transit goods, though this has been partially offset by increased imports from Central Asian countries and traders relying on alternative routes for import and export. Meanwhile, the Afghani exchange rate has remained broadly stable year on year, helping to moderate import cost. Despite this, prices of wheat grain, wheat flour, rice, cooking oil, and salt remain higher than last year and above the two-year average, reflecting seasonal pressures and higher import and transport costs.
Food Items: National average prices of key food commodities showed mostly negligible week-on-week fluctuations during the second week of December. Wheat grain, wheat flour (low-price), rice, and cooking oil recorded slight weekly increases, while pulses and wheat flour (high-price) declined marginally. On a year-on-year basis, wheat grain, wheat flour, rice, cooking oil, and salt recorded notable increases. Moreover, Compared to the two-year average, prices of wheat grain, wheat flour, rice, cooking oil, and salt remain elevated, while sugar, pulses, and bread are lower. Overall, prices remain higher than the same period before the government transition in 2021, except for wheat grain and wheat flour.
Vegetable Items: Prices of vegetables showed mixed week-on-week movements, with tomatoes and potatoes recording slight increases due to reduced winter availability, while onion prices continued to decline. Compared to last year and the two-year average, onion prices remain significantly lower, while tomato and potato prices show only minor changes.
Labour Market: Labour market conditions continued to weaken with the onset of winter. Casual labour availability declined to 2.0 days per week, while unskilled labour wages remained low at AFN 301 per day. Compared to last year and the two-year average, labour availability remains significantly lower, highlighting continued contraction in income-earning opportunities.
Diesel: The national average price of diesel continued to decline during the second week of December, falling by 0.9% week-on-week to AFN 68.7 per litre, supported by improved supply from Central Asian countries. Despite the weekly decline, diesel prices remain elevated, standing 15% higher than last year and 11% above the two-year average. Globally, the average diesel price stood at USD 1.24 per litre as of 08 December 2025.
Non-Food Items: Prices of key non-food commodities remained largely stable with negligible week-on-week changes. Compared to last year, DAP fertilizer prices remain significantly higher, while urea, improved seed, and animal feed prices are slightly above last year’s levels but remain below their two-year averages.