By Tina Akannam

Dutse—With few days to the 2010 Christmas celebration, cost of food items in  markets in Jigawa State has continued to rise.

The price increments started in the early part of this month as Christian families started their shopping for the festive season. Despite the rise, families have continued to do their last minute shopping.

Vanguard investigations around markets in Jigawa State show that a bag of Royal Gold brand of rice which costs between  N7,000  to N7,200, is now sold between N8,500 to N9,000; Mama Gold rice, formerly sold at N7,000 now costs N8,500, while the small bags that were sold at N3,700 now cost N4,200.

While a basket of tomatoes which was sold for N1,600, now goes for N2,500 to N3,600; a bag of onions that was sold for between N4,000 and N5000, now cost between N7000 and N9000; while pepper, which was N6,000 now sells for N9,000 per bag.