ISLAMABAD: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI)-based weekly inflation for the week ended on May 21 witnessed an increase of 0.66 per cent, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.
The SPI for the week under review for the combined consumption group was recorded at 128.15 points, as against 127.31 points registered in the previous week.
The weekly SPI with base year 2015-16=100 covers 17 urban centers and 51 essential items for all expenditure groups.
The SPI for the lowest consumption group, up to Rs17,732, also witnessed 0.57pc increase, from 133.30 points last week to 134.06 points during the week under review.
Weekly inflation for consumption groups from Rs17,733-Rs22,888; Rs22,889-Rs29,517; Rs29,518-Rs44,175 and above Rs44,175 per month increased by 0.65pc, 0.65pc, 0.69pc and 0.65pc, respectively.
During the week, prices of five items decreased, 17 items increased while that of 29 items remained unchanged.
The items that recorded a decrease in their average prices included onions, LPG cylinder, pulse (gram, masoor) and gur.
The commodities which recorded increase in their average prices included chicken, tomatoes, wheat, bananas, garlic, potatoes, moong pulse, mustard oil, curd, cigarettes, pulse (mash), mutton, eggs, cooking oil, sugar, milk, rice (basmati).
Similarly, the prices of the commodities that observed no change in their price during the week under review included rice (Irri-6/9), bread, beef, milk (powdered), vegetable ghee, vegetable ghee, salt, chilies, tea (packet), cooked beef, tea (prepared), long cloth, shirting, lawn, georgette, gents sandal, gents sponge chappal, ladies sandal, electricity charges, firewoodk, energy saver, washing soap, matchbox, petrol, diesel, telephone call, and toiled soap.
According to the PBS analysis, the increase in inflation was mainly due to a rise in prices of food items i.e. chicken (10.47pc), tomatoes (9.60pc), wheat flour (2.35pc), bananas (2.34pc), garlic (1.69pc) and potatoes (1.21pc).
