Weekly inflation eases 0.22 per cent

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) based weekly inflation for the week ended on January 14, for the combined consumption group, witnessed decrease of 0.22 percent as compared to the previous week.

The SPI for the week under review in the above mentioned group was recorded at 139.70 points against 140.01 points registered in the previous week, according to the latest data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined consumption group in the week under review witnessed an increase of 5.77 percent.

The weekly SPI with base year 2015-16=100 is covering 17 urban centers and 51 essential items for all expenditure groups.

The Sensitive Price Indicator for the lowest consumption group up to Rs17,732 witnessed 0.10 percent increase and went up from 144.92 points in last week to 145.07 points during the week under review.

Meanwhile, the SPI for the consumption groups from Rs17,732-22,888 witnessed no change while that of from Rs22,889-29,517; Rs29,518-44,175; and above Rs 44,175 per month decreased by 0.06 percent, 0.16 percent and 0.33 percent respectively.

During the week, prices of 07 items decreased, 23 items increased while that of 21 items remained constant. The items, which recorded decrease in their average prices, included eggs, tomatoes, potatoes, onions, chicken, electricity charges and LPG Cylinder.

The commodities, which recorded increase in their average prices, included bananas, chillies, sugar, vegetable ghee (loose), mustard oil, veegetalbe ghee (tin), match box, cooking oil (loose), long cloth, shirting, moong pulse, firewood, rice (Irri-6/9), mutton, gur, masoor pulse, wheat flour, toilet soap, rice (Basmat broken), gram pulse, mash pulse, garlic and cooked daal.

Similarly, the prices of the commodities that observed no change during the week under review included bread, beef, milk fresh, curd, milk (powdered), salt, tea (packet), cooked beef, tea (prepared), cigarettes, lawn, georgette, gents sandal, gas charges, energy saver, washing soap, petrol, diesel and telephone call charges.