"The MAU tracks market prices in Central and Northern Rakhine State and Chin State. Data are collected from three vendors per product per market in the last week of each month. Data and product specifications are available online through the MPR dashboard at www.themimu.info/market-analysis-unit. KEY FINDINGS Essential food prices dipped in January as rice prices fell 4% and cooking oil prices declined 10-32%; Vegetable prices fell 25-75% across markets, likely due in large part to new supply of local winter crops; Vegetables remained 200-500% above last year, even after falling prices unwound the latest price hikes; Meat and fish prices rose another 10% in January, and they lingered 60-120% above 2023 levels; Prices for hygiene products climbed at least 17% amid retailer reports of dwindling supply; Access to NFIs from outside the region may worsen as roads and town markets remain closed; Lower rice and vegetable prices were a promising sign and suggested that winter crop harvest may be reaching local markets despite mounting challenges. Product-Level Price Changes Essential Foods – Essential food prices dipped modestly in January. Rice prices retreated by 4% or more in most markets monitored, while cooking oil prices fell 10-32% (one-time oil shipments to Sittwe in mid-January likely explain this in part). Prices for pulses rose another 10% or more in several markets. Vegetables – Vegetable prices fell 25-75% across markets, likely due to increased winter supply. Prices for onion, eggplant, garlic, and green chili retreated 25-75% in January, likely due to improved supply from winter harvest. Lower prices may also owe in part to a shift to measuring village prices (vegetables are often cheaper in villages where they are grown than in towns where they are sold with a mark-up for transportation costs).1 Meat and Fish – Meat and fish prices increased 10% or more in most markets in January. Chicken prices rose more sharply than other foods in January and prices doubled in Ponnagyun. Meat/fish prices fell in some cases but rose in general. Sitwe saw notable increases of 10-30% for multiple meat/fish items. Hygiene Products – Prices for hygiene products climbed at least 17% in January amid reports of dwindling inventory. Prices for soap, detergent, and sanitary pads doubled in some cases, and retailers reported low inventories. Prices for hygiene products were fairly stable in Sittwe and Maungdaw towns, but prices were higher in villages where town markets have closed. Other NFIs – NFI prices climbed in January, particularly winter-related items like charcoal and blankets. Prices for charcoal and blankets increased 25-50% in January, while prices also rose in some markets for cooking pots, tarps and towels. Retailers worried about stockouts of NFIs supplied from afar..."