Egg prices dropped 0.6 per cent week-on-week and were down 6.2 per cent cumulatively from the end of September, the ministry said in a statement on its website.

During the week of 5 to 11 December, the wholesale prices of 18 staple vegetables rose by 7.9 per cent from one week earlier and by 18.4 per cent from early November.

Prices of cucumbers, balsam pears and white gourds increased 20.6 per cent, 12.2 per cent and 7.8 per cent, respectively, week-on-week as supplies dropped, the statement said.

The price of meat also rose slightly, with pork prices up 0.2 per cent. Mutton prices rose 0.2 per cent and beef prices rose 0.4 per cent.

However, the retail prices of rice and flour slid 0.2 per cent last week, as they were in plentiful supply, the statement said.