ISLAMABAD: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI)-based weekly inflation for the week ended on May 7 witnessed an increase of 0.36pc, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported Friday.
The SPI for the week under review for the combined consumption group was recorded at 127.30 points, as against 126.84 points registered in the previous week.
The weekly SPI, with base year 2015-16, covers 17 urban centres and 51 essential items of all expenditure groups.
The SPI for the lowest consumption group, up to Rs17,732, witnessed 0.89pc increase, from 132.18 points in the last week to 133.36 points during the week under review.
Meanwhile, the SPI for the consumption groups from Rs17,733-Rs22,888, Rs22,889-Rs29,517, Rs29,518-Rs44,175 and above Rs44,175 per month increased by 0.88pc, 0.78pc, 0.65pc and 0.02pc, respectively.
During the week, prices of 12 items decreased, 16 items increased, while that of 23 items remained unchanged.
The items that recorded a decrease in their average prices included diesel, petrol, onions, tomatoes, pulse (masoor, gram), garlic, curd, wheat flour, sugar, mustard oil and vegetable ghee (loose).
On the other hand, commodities that recorded an increase in their prices included chicken, bananas, potatoes, LPG Cylinder, gur, long cloth, powdered chilies, mutton, men shirts, beef, pulse (mash, moong), milk (fresh, powdered), eggs and firewood.
Similarly, commodities that observed no change in their prices included rice (basmati, Irri 6/9), bread, cooking oil (loose), vegetable ghee (tin) salt, tea (packet), cooked beef, cooked daal, tea (prepared), cigarettes, lawn, georgette, gents sandal, gents chappal, ladies sandal, gas charges, energy saver, washing soap, matchbox, telephone call and toilet soap.
According to PBS analysis, the weekly increase was mainly due to a rise in prices of chicken (23.68pc), bananas (7.40pc), potatoes (5.14pc), gur (1.26pc) and chili powder (1.08pc).
