ISLAMABAD: The country’s inflation has surged to 4.3 percent in April crossing well past the 4 per cent mark for the first time in the last 16 months, mainly due to hike in commodities prices.
According to the latest data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), inflation measured by Consumer Price Index (CPI) has gone beyond 4 percent during April. Meanwhile, the average inflation remained at 2.79 percent during first ten months (July-April) of the ongoing financial year 2015-2016.
The sensitive price indicator (SPI), which gauges weekly inflation in kitchen items, increased by 1.44 percent in July-2015 to April-2016 period as against the same months of last year. Similarly, the wholesale price index (WPI) based inflation decreased by 1.29 percent in the period under review.
According to the PBS data, food and non-alcoholic beverages prices increased by 3.46 percent and transport charged went down by 4.17 percent during April 2016. Health and education charges went up by 5.1 percent and 5.89 percent, respectively. Similarly, prices of utilities (housing, water, electricity, gas and fuel) increased by 5.26 percent in April 2016. Meanwhile, prices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco stood at 29.05 percent, clothing and footwear 4.93 percent and furnishings and household equipment maintenance 4.28 percent. Charges related to recreation and culture went up 1.53 percent and restaurants and hotel 5.71 percent in April 2016 over the same month in 2015.
In food commodities, price of tomatoes increased by 60.41 percent, chicken 30.75pc, fresh vegetables 14.32pc, fresh fruits 13.42pc, gram whole 5.71pc, pulse mash washed 3.65pc and besan price showed increase of 2.95 percent during April over the preceding months.
Meanwhile, in non-food items, charges of education went up by 4.97 percent, medical equipment 2.34pc, cotton cloth 2.11pc, Doctor (MBBS) clinic fee 2.05pc, kerosene oil price 1.4pc, motor fuel 1.33pc and house rent went by 1.22 during the period under review. According to the PBS data, price of eggs decreased by 6.58pc, onions 5.72pc and wheat 4.31 percent during April 2016 as against the same period of the previous year.
