On March 23, Minsk / Tatyana Lobas - BELTA /. Food prices in Belarus in January-February of the current year increased by 15.5% compared to January-February 2010, the National Statistical Committee informed a BELTA correspondent. In February 2011, compared to January 2011, food prices increased by 2.2%, and compared to December 2010, by 4.4%. The change in food prices in February compared to the previous month contributed 1.1% to the growth of the consolidated consumer price index. In January-February 2011, compared to January-February of last year, potatoes in Belarus became more expensive by 69.6%, cereals by 49.6%, vegetable oil by 39.6%, butter by 37.5%, sugar by 30.4%, fruits by 26.3%, vegetables by 23.7%, cheese by 21.6%, confectionery by 17.4%, milk and dairy products by 17.4%, eggs by 14.6%. Prices for meat and poultry increased by 12.3%, alcoholic beverages by 13%, tea by 8.9%. In February of this year, compared to January 2011, prices increased for buckwheat by 27.9%, sugar by 9.8%, millet by 7.6%, first-grade beef by 5.1%, beef semi-finished products by 4%, lard, cheese, pork, fish and seafood, butter by 3-3.4%, milk and dairy products, sausages and smoked products, mayonnaise, pearl barley and semolina, non-alcoholic beverages, margarine by 2-2.7%, wheat flour, pasta and confectionery, canned meat and fish, poultry, vegetable oil by 1.3-1.8%. Prices for white cabbage increased by 12.5%, carrots by 9.6%, fresh cucumbers by 9.1%, onions by 7.8%, potatoes by 6.2%, garlic by 5.8%, beetroot by 5.4%. Fruits became more expensive by 3.3%, including apples by 7.6%, bananas by 4.2%. Citrus fruits became cheaper by 3.2%. The average prices (per kg) for first-grade beef in February were Br14.205 thousand, for pork (excluding boneless meat) - Br12.169 thousand, for chicken carcasses - Br9.121 thousand, for top-grade boiled sausage - Br14.528 thousand, for frozen fish - Br7.351 thousand. In February of the current year, the average prices per litre of milk with 2.5%-3.5% fat content were Br1.764 thousand, for sour cream - Br7.541 thousand per kg, for hard cheese - Br20.22 thousand, for butter - Br20.3 thousand, for rye-wheat bread - Br1.941 thousand, for pasta - Br3.21 thousand. Millet cost Br3.378 thousand, rice - Br4.711 thousand per kg.