Weekly inflation rises 0.98pc

ISLAMABAD: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI)-based weekly inflation for the week ended on July 9 witnessed an increase of 0.98pc as compared to the previous week.

The SPI for the combined consumption group was recorded at 133.62 points during the week under review, as against 132.32 points registered in the previous week, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined consumption group during the week under review witnessed an increase of 11.02pc.

The weekly SPI, with the base year 2015-16, covers 17 urban centres and 51 essential items for all expenditure groups.

The SPI for the lowest consumption group, up to Rs17,732, also witnessed an increase of 1.27pc, from 138.24 points in last week to 139.99 points during the week under review.

Meanwhile, the SPI for the consumption groups from Rs17,732-Rs22,888, Rs22,889-Rs29,517; Rs29,518-RS44,175, Rs29,518 to Rs44,175 and above Rs44,175 per month increased by 1.25pc, 1.11pc, 1.06pc and 0.86pc, respectively.

During the week under review, the prices of 11 items decreased, 18 items increased while that of 22 items remained unchanged.

The items that recorded a decrease in their average prices included bananas, pulse (moong, masoor, mash), cooking oil, wheat flour, LPG cylinder, vegetable ghee (loose and tin), garlic and rice (Irri 6/9).

On the other hand, commodities that recorded an increase in their average prices included tomatoes, onions, chillies, eggs, potatoes, sugar, long cloth, shirting, georgette, chicken, beef, milk (fresh), lawn, mutton, toilet soap, rice (basmati broken), gur and gram.

Similarly, items that observed no change in their price included bread, curd, milk (powdered), mustard oil, salt, tea (packet), cooked beef, cooked daal, tea (prepared), cigarettes, gents sandal, gents chappal, ladies sandal, electricity charges, gas charges, firewood, energy saver, washing soap, matchbox, petrol, diesel and local telephone call.

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