Weekly inflation dips 0.14pc

ISLAMABAD: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI)-based weekly inflation for the week ended on February 20 decreased by 0.14pc as compared to the previous week.

The SPI for the week under review in the combined consumption group was recorded at 130.67 points, as against 130.85 points registered in the previous week, according to latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The weekly SPI was 100 collected with base 2015-16, covering 17 urban centres and 51 essential items for all expenditure groups.

The SPI for the lowest consumption group, up to Rs17,732, also witnessed 0.03pc reduction as it went down from 134.07 points in the last week to 134.03 points during the week under review.

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 15.97pc, while for the lowest group, it increased by 14.39pc.

Meanwhile, the SPI for the consumption groups from Rs17,733 to Rs22,888, from Rs22,889 to Rs29,517, Rs29,518 to Rs44,175 and above Rs44,175 per month also decreased by 0.08pc, 0.11pc, 0.14pc and 0.16pc, respectively.

During the week under review, average prices of 13 items registered a decrease, while that of nine items increased with prices of 29 items remaining unchanged.

The prices of the commodities that recorded a decrease in their prices during the week under review included tomatoes, eggs (farm), chicken, potatoes, gur, garlic, wheat flour bag, LPG cylinder (11.67kg), sugar and pulses (mash, gram, masoor, moong).

The items which recorded an increase in their average prices included onions, bananas, rice basmati, mutton, beef, curd, rice (irri-6), vegetable ghee and mustard oil.

The commodities that observed no change in their prices during the week under review included bread, milk fresh, powder milk, cooking oil, vegetable ghee, salt powder, chilli powder, tea, cooked beef, cooked daal, tea (prepared), cigarettes, long cloth, shirting, lawn, georgette, gents sandal, gents sponge, ladies sandal, electricity charges, gas charges, firewood, energy charges, washing soap, matchbox, hi-speed diesel, telephone calls and toilet soap.