ISLAMABAD: After huge reduction in petroleum products, the monthly inflation, measured by the consumer price index (CPI), remained low in December 2014 at 4.3 per cent as compared to the same month in the previous year.
Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data shows that CPI had touched the 11-years lowest sides of 3.95 percent in November 2014 and it remained at 5.8 percent in October 2014.
Core inflation, a measure that excludes the more volatile food and energy prices, also came in at a relatively low level of 6.7% compared to 6.9% in November 2014 and 8.2% in December 2013.
According to the PBS figures, six-months (July-December 2014-15) average inflation stood at 6.08 percent as compared to 8.89 percent in the same period of the last fiscal year.
In December 2014, food and non-alcoholic beverages prices were up by 2.53 percent and utilities (housing, water, electricity, gas and fuel) by 5.84 percent. Interestingly, health and education charges became dearer by 5.68 percent and 14.3 percent, respectively.
Prices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco stood at 20.67 percent, clothing and footwear 8.81 percent and furnishings and household equipment maintenance 6.62 percent.
Charges related to recreation and culture went up 3.53 percent and restaurants and hotel 7.2 percent in December 2014 over the same month in 2013. However, transportation charges were down by 6.02 percent.
Meanwhile, the PBS data showed that price of tomatoes increased by 12.47 percent in the month of December 2014 against November, price of chicken enhanced by 11.76 percent and price of pulse moong went up by 3.82 percent. Prices of fish surged by 2.16 percent and dry fruits 1.07 percent. Similarly, in non-food commodities, prices of Woolen Readymade Garments increased by 2.25 percent and Postal Services enhanced by 2.14 percent.
The prices of following commodities decreased potatoes 38.59 percent, onions 27.71 percent, fresh vegetables 14.64 percent, fresh fruits 5.99 percent and sugar 4.51, rice 3.11 percent, eggs 2.18 percent, wheat 1.84 percent and vegetable ghee 1.11 percent during the period under review. Similarly, in non-food commodities, price of Motor Fuel 6.63 percent, and Kerosene Oil 6.53 percent during December over November.
The sensitive price indicator (SPI), which gauges weekly inflation in kitchen items, has increased by 3.47 percent in July-December 2014 as against the same month of last year. Similarly, the Wholesale Price Index (WPI) based inflation increased by 2.13 percent in the period under review.
