Weekly inflation up 0.51 percent

ISLAMABAD: Inflation for the week ended August 10 for the combined income groups increased 0.51 percent as compared to the previous week.

According to the data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday, sensitive price indicator (SPI) for the week under review in the abovementioned group was recorded at 219.92 points against 218.80 points last week.

SPI for the combined group during the week under review witnessed an increase of 0.64 percent.

The weekly SPI has been computed with base 2007-2008=100, covering 17 urban centres and 53 essential items for all income groups.

Meanwhile, SPI for the lowest income group up to Rs8,000 increased 0.74 percent, as it went up from 208.32 points during the previous week to 209.86 points in the week under review.

SPI for the income groups from Rs8,001 to Rs12,000, Rs12,001 to Rs18,000, Rs18,001 to Rs35,000 and above Rs35,000, also increased 0.67 percent, 0.62 percent, 0.54 percent and 0.37 percent, respectively. Average prices of 11 items registered increase, 13 items declined, while the remaining 29 items' prices remained unchanged.

The items, which registered increase in their prices during the week under review included onions, sugar, chicken, LPG cylinder, gur, beef, mutton, garlic, mustard oil, milk (fresh) and vegetable ghee.

The items, which registered decrease in their prices included tomatoes, diesel, petrol, bananas, mash pulse, moong pulse, potatoes, tea (packet), gram pulse, wheat flour, chilly powder and eggs.

The items with no change in their average prices during the week under review included wheat, basmati broken, Irri-6, bread, curd, milk (powdered), cooking oil (tin), vegetable ghee (tin), salt, cooked beef, cooked daal, tea (prepared), cigarettes, long cloth, shirting, lawn, georgette, gents sandal, gents chappal, ladies sandal, electricity charges, kerosene, firewood, electric bulb, washing soap, match box, telephone local call and bath soap.