"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 Rice prices increased by 6-12% in most markets in April, although pulses and palm oil prices were stable; Palm oil prices were just 17% above April 2022, after eight months of fairly calm oil markets; Vegetable prices rose for a second straight month following a seasonal pattern for this time of year; Prices for hygiene products were again stable, remaining 40-70% above April 2022 levels; Meat/fish prices increased significantly in April, registering their largest increases in five months; Kyauktaw, Rathedaung and Minbya saw steep hikes in April, while Paletwa and Pauktaw prices were stable; Further price increases are likely in May—particularly for essential foods but perhaps also NFIs—as cyclone preparation absorbs existing inventory. Product-Level Price Changes Essential Foods – Rice prices increased widely in April, although prices for pulses and palm oil were fairly stable. Rice prices increased by 6-12% in half of all markets monitored in April, although higher rice prices after the Thingyan holiday are not unusual. Prices for palm oil and pulses were stable in most cases, although they fluctuated by 10-20% in isolated cases. Vegetables – Vegetable prices increased for a second straight month in April. Eggplant and long bean prices rose widely, often up 40% or more. Townships were evenly split between stable and rising prices for most other vegetables monitored (often rising in the range of 10-20%); lower prices were rare. Only garlic saw falling prices, down 4-13% in a few cases. Hygiene Products – Prices for hygiene products were very stable in April, except in Kyauktaw where prices rose. Soap prices increased by 11-25% in multiple markets, but price shifts were otherwise fairly isolated for hygiene products. The only falling prices were toothpaste prices in two markets Meat and Fish – Meat/fish prices rose in April, marking their clearest increase since November 2022. Chicken and fish paste prices rose at least 7% in most markets monitored in April, while fresh fish and shrimp prices rose at least 13%. Dried fish prices were more stable, although they too rose 4-8% in some cases. Only Paletwa and Pautaw saw occasionally-lower prices. Other NFIs – NFI prices were stable or rising in April, with most price increase in the range of 5-14%. Prices for towels and longyis increased at least 5% in most markets, while plastic tarps, blankets and cooking pots rose 3-7% in a few markets. Isolated stockouts affected umbrellas and mosquito nets, but most other NFI prices were stable..."