LAHORE: Increase in prices of non-perishable products has taken inflation for the combined income group up by 0.4 per cent for the week ended April 4, a private news outlet reported.
According to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data released on Friday, the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) increased during the week after slowing down during three consecutive weeks previously.
The index, based on a survey of 17 cities and 53 markets, monitors prices of 53 items. During the period under review, prices of 26 items increased, while prices of 12 items decreased 15 items stayed constant.
For the income group earning up to Rs8,000 a month and also the income group earning more than Rs35,000 a month, the SPI increased by 0.6 per cent over the previous week.
For the period under review, SPI for the combined group on an Year on Year (YoY) basis experienced a decline of 0.89 per cent.
An increase in prices of food items was also experienced with tomatoes increasing 4.7 per cent, chicken 3 per cent, curd 1.8 per cent, bananas 1.7 per cent, beef with bone 1.7 per cent, mutton 1.6 per cent, fresh milk 1.5 per cent, onions 1.4 per cent, potatoes 1.2 per cent, red chilli powder 0.98 per cent, sugar 0.5 per cent, vegetable ghee tin 2.5kg 0.42 per cent, rice basmati (broken) 0.4 per cent, pulse moong 0.3 per cent, cooking oil 2.5 litre 0.2 per cent, rice Irri-6 0.2 per cent, and vegetable ghee 0.05 per cent.
Similarly, prices of washing soap went up by 5.8 per cent, lawn printed 1.7 per cent, long cloth 1.6 per cent, shirting 1.5 per cent, georgette 1.3 per cent and electric bulb 0.08 per cent.
On the other hand, prices of garlic fell 7.2 per cent, petrol 2.3 per cent, egg 2.2 per cent, high speed diesel 2.06 per cent, firewood whole 1.07 per cent, LPG cylinder 11kg 0.62 per cent, wheat flour 0.6 per cent, gur 0.6 per cent, wheat 0.5 per cent, pulse mash 0.45 per cent, pulse masoor 0.22 per cent and pulse gram 0.1 per cent.
