Black-market prices of cooking gas and auto fuel saw considerable fluctuations in several of the nine Baghdad neighborhoods where Slogger sources track prices of key commodities each week.

The black-market price of cooking gas fell by 25 percent in the central districts of Harthiya and Mansour, and by 14.3 percent in Karrada and Baghdad al-Jadida, according to Slogger sources in the capital. These fluctuations represent a marked shift compared with the last two weeks when cooking gas prices have been notably static. The average price of cooking gas across the nine neighborhoods is now at its lowest levels since Slogger began tracking prices in early 2007.

Following the unsettled patterns of last week's data, street prices of gasoline continue to fluctuate. The price of auto fuel fell by 16.7 percent in Sadr City and by 7.1 percent in Sha'b, while it rose by 14.3 percent in Karrada and Mansour, according to Slogger sources. Street prices of this commodity are now back down to the level that they were at two weeks ago.

In all nine sampled districts black-market prices of auto fuel and cooking gas remain much higher than the official prices of 400 ID/liter and 4000 ID/cylinder, respectively. These fuels are seldom available at these rates in Baghdad.

In other important news, the prices of khubuz bread fell dramatically in five of the nine districts. The price of this generally stable commodity fell by 28.6 percent in Baghdad al-Jadida and Hay al-'Amil, by 25 percent in Ghazaliya and by 14.3 percent in Kadhimiya and Mansour. The price of samoun bread was comparatively static, apart from in Mansour where it fell by 20 percent.

The price of Marlboro cigarettes, another commodity tracked in the nine districts, remain unchanged, according to Slogger sources.

To view all of IraqSlogger's exclusive price check coverage, click here.

For a map of the nine Baghdad districts represented in the weekly report, click here.

Auto fuel (ID/liter)

Khubuz bread (ID/piece)

Samoun bread (ID/piece)

Marlboros (ID/carton)

Black market prices of auto fuel fluctuated considerably in several of the nine Baghdad neighborhoods where Slogger sources track prices of key commodities.

Gasoline prices in Karrada and Mansour fell by 12.5% and rose by 20% in Sadr City and by 7.7% in Sha'b, according to Slogger sources in the capital. These fluctuations bring the price of auto fuel down to 700 ID/liter in all districts with the exception of Sadr City where the price of gasoline is typically lower than in the other nine districts. The average price of auto fuel over the nine districts is now at its lowest point since Slogger began tracking prices in early 2007.

The 20-point hike in auto fuel prices on the streets of Sadr City is the most dramatic feature of this week's data, especially after IraqSlogger sources reported a month ago that the black-market prices in Sadr City had not spiked dramatically as the weeks-long siege of the district wore on. It bears noting that other commodities in Sadr City have not reflected this week's reported spike in black-market auto fuel prices in the district.

Street prices of cooking gas remain unchanged from last week, according to Slogger sources around the city. The price stability is another departure from last week's price check which showed black market prices of auto fuel and cooking gas falling in a number of districts.

In all nine sampled districts, black market prices of auto fuel and cooking gas remain much higher than the official prices of 400 ID/liter and 4000 ID/cylinder, respectively.

Prices in other key commodities in Baghdad neighborhoods remain relatively stable, according to Slogger sources, with a few exceptions. The price of a carton of Marlboro cigarettes rose three percent in Karrada, bringing it further in line with prices in the other nine neighborhoods. The price of the staple khubuz bread fell by 16.7% in Sha'b, making this district is now the cheapest place to buy this commodity outside of Sadr City.

In Mansour the price of samoun bread rose by 25%. Elsewhere prices of key commodities remain static.

Stay tuned for next week's update, and to view all of IraqSlogger's exclusive price check coverage, click here.

For a map of the nine Baghdad districts represented in the weekly report, click here.

Marlboros (ID/carton)

Cooking gas (ID/cylinder)

Khubuz bread (ID/piece)

Samoun bread (ID/piece)

After an uptick in mid-April, black-market prices of key fuels fell dramatically over the last weeks in several of the nine Baghdad neighborhoods where Slogger sources track prices of certain commodities.

Street prices of gasoline rose in Baghdad for much of the week ending April 19, except in besieged areas of Sadr City and Sha'b where they fell, and the eastern district of Baghdad al-Jadida where they remained static.

However data from the week ending April 26 show black-market fuel prices falling sharply. In districts as widely dispersed as Baghdad al-Jadida, Sadr City, Ghazaliya, Hay al-'Amil and Harthiya, prices fell significantly below the April 12 levels, according to Slogger sources in the capital.

Black-market prices of cooking gas also fell in a number of neighborhoods, dropping 10 to 20 percent in Karrada, Kadhimiya, Mansour, Ghazaliya, Sha'b and Hay al-'Amil.

Prices of cooking gas and car fuel remain significantly lower in Sadr City compared with the other eight Baghdad neighborhoods where prices are tracked. Sadr City has been locked under siege conditions since late March. Depressed fuel prices may be related to a vehicle curfew that has sharply reduced automobile use in the district.

Falling auto fuel prices in other neighborhoods brings them closer to those of Baghdad al-Jadida and Sadr City, sites of the two lowest reported fuel prices in the city, according to Slogger's sources in the capital.

In all nine sampled districts, black-market prices of auto fuel and cooking gas remain much higher than the official prices of 400 ID/liter and 4000 ID/cylinder, respectively. These fuels are much less available at these state-set rates in Baghdad.

In other developments, prices of the staple khubuz bread have fallen significantly in all neighborhoods apart from Ghazaliya where the price remains stable. At 100 ID/piece the price of khubuz in Sadr City remains far below prices elsewhere.

Showing a similar downward trend, prices of samoun, another staple bread, have fallen 20 to 30 percent in seven Baghdad districts. The price of samoun has now fallen to 100 ID in all Baghdad neighborhoods, except in Karrada where prices remained stable at 125 ID.

The reported changes in the price of khubuz and samoun brought the costs of these relatively stably priced commodities back to where they were prior to week ending April 12 when they were shown to spike.

Prices of Marlboro cigarettes in the sampled Baghdad neighborhoods remain unchanged, according to Slogger sources.

Stay tuned for next week's update, and to view all of IraqSlogger's exclusive price check coverage click here.

For a map of the nine Baghdad districts represented in the weekly report click here.

Cooking gas (ID/cylinder)

Khubuz bread (ID/piece)

Samoun bread (ID/piece)

Marlboros (ID/carton)