ISLAMABAD: The weekly inflation measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), witnessed a decrease of 1.13 percent for the combined consumption groups during the week ended on March 21, as reported by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics Friday.
According to PBS data, the SPI for this period stood at 323.50 points, compared to 327.21 points the previous week. Compared to the same week last year, the SPI for all consumption groups showed a 29.06% increase. The weekly SPI, based on a 2015-16 base year = 100, encompasses 17 urban centers and fifty one essential items across all expenditure groups.
For the lowest consumption group (up to Rs. 17,732), the SPI decreased by 1.83% to 314.20 points from the previous week’s 320.06 points. Similarly, the SPI for consumption groups ranging from Rs. 17,732-22,888; Rs. 22,889-29,517; Rs. 29,518-44,175; and above Rs. 44,175 decreased by 1.64%, 1.34%, 1.25%, and 0.91% respectively.
Out of 51 items, prices of 9 (17.65%) items increased, 17 (33.33%) items decreased, and 25 (49.02%) items remained stable during the week. Items that saw a decrease in average prices included Tomatoes (36.73%), Onions (19.58%), Potatoes (4.02%), Garlic (2.87%), Pulse Mash (1.25%), Wheat Flour (1.02%), Sugar (0.95%), Pulse Masoor (0.86%), and Diesel (0.60%). Conversely, items that experienced price increases included LPG (1.49%), Shirting (0.74%), Beef (0.53%), Rice Basmati Broken (0.48%), Mutton (0.42%), Mustard Oil (0.40%), Rice Irri 6/9 (0.25%), Powdered Milk (0.14%), and Georgette (0.03%).
On a year-on-year basis, commodities that saw price decreases included Cooking Oil 5 Litre (21.35%), Vegetable Ghee 2.5 Kg (18.48%), Vegetable Ghee 1 Kg (18.44%), Mustard Oil (13.90%), Bananas (13.52%), Diesel (2.47%), and Cigarettes (0.06%). Conversely, commodities that experienced price increases on a year-on-year basis included Gas Charges for Q1 (570.00%), Chilies Powder (86.05%), Gents Sponge Chappal (58.05%), Garlic (57.41%), Onions (54.65%), Gents Sandal (53.37%), Gur (39.86%), Sugar (35.01%), Salt Powder (33.29%), Energy Saver (29.83%), and Pulse Mash (27.31%).—APP
