April 18, 1956
FOOD MARKET: Prices of meat on the market this Easter are at their usual levels. A large number of consumers have been turning to frozen meat, particularly French beef (selling at 31.60 drachmas per oka, about 1.28 kilos). Top-quality fish is hard to find and its place has been taken by frozen fish. Fruit prices are also high for this time of year. Merlin oranges are selling for 10 drachmas per oka and sanguini oranges for 7 drachmas. As consumer interest in imported rice is low, local varieties of this product are in great demand. There is a slight shortage of extra virgin olive oil. The best quality olive oil, from the Peloponnese, is selling at 28 drachmas per oka (1 US dollar = 30 drachmas). Reserves of domestic wheat are falling and Greek flour mills are mostly using American wheat along with hard Spanish wheat. There has been a drop in world coffee prices, although in the domestic market prices have not increased. GREEKS IN TASHKENT: The Interior Ministry has released statements regarding the living conditions Greeks, both abductees and exiled outlaws, in Russia. In Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan, there are currently between 12,000 and 15,000 Greeks.
