ISLAMABAD: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI)-based weekly inflation (as on March 26) for the combined consumption group witnessed a decrease of 1.25pc as compared to the previous week.
The SPI for the week under review in the above mentioned category was recorded at 128.10 points as against 129.72 points registered in the previous week, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The weekly SPI, with 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, witnessed a 0.22pc fall, from 133.69 points last week to 133.39 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 11.86pc, while for the lowest group, it increased by 12.52pc.
Meanwhile, the SPI for consumption groups from Rs17,733-Rs22,888, Rs22,889-Rs29,517, Rs.29,518-Rs44,175 and above Rs44,175 per month also decreased by 0.51pc, 0.71pc, 1.00pc and 1.66pc, respectively.
Out of the total 51 items, prices of five items increased, 19 items decreased while that of 27 items remained unchanged.
The items that recorded a decrease in their average prices included chicken (-17.69pc), gur (-0.48pc), petrol (-13.31pc), diesel (-12.15pc) and LPG (-2.44pc). The joint impact of the drop in prices of these commodities contributed -1.74pc to the overall SPI for combined group (-1.25pc).
On the other hand, commodities that recorded an increase in their average prices included eggs, pulse (gram, moong, mash), wheat flour, garlic, onions, bananas, bread, tomatoes, sugar, milk (fresh), potatoes, firewood, mustard oil, mutton, curd and vegetable ghee.
Similarly, commodities that observed no change in their price included rice (basmati broken), rice (irri 6/9), beef, milk (powdered), cooking oil (tin), vegetable ghee (tin), salt, chillies, tea (packet), cooked beef, cooked daal, tea (prepared), cigarettes, long cloth, shirting, lawn, georgette, gents sandal, gents chappal, ladies sandal, electricity charges, gas charges, energy saver, washing soap, matchbox, telephone call and bath soap.
