Weekly SPI falls 0.03pc

ISLAMABAD: Sensitive price indicator (SPI) for the week ended February 15 slightly decreased to 0.03 percent over the previous week, and rose 1.03 percent as compared to weekly inflation in the corresponding period last year, official data showed on Friday.

Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data showed that weekly inflation for the combined income group continued with its downward trend, recording at 222.24 points against 222.31 points last week.

SPI for income group of up to Rs8,000 was marginally down 0.13 percent during the week under review as compared to the preceding week.

Weekly inflation for the group earning Rs8,001 to Rs12,000 declined by 0.09 percent, followed by 0.05 percent for the people earning between Rs12,001 and Rs18,000, 0.03 percent for those making Rs18,001 and Rs35,000 and 0.02 percent for the income group earning above Rs35,000. PBS computes weekly price trend of 53 essential items from 17 urban centres. Average prices of 13 goods decreased during the week ended on February 15 over the previous week.

Prices of onions fell 6.07 percent on a kilogram, showing the highest decline. It was followed by potatoes down 5.92 percent, average quality gur down 1.87 percent, farm or broiler live chicken down 1.80 percent, refined sugar down 0.93 percent, washed gram down 0.75 percent, LPG cylinder (11kg) down 0.71 percent, washed moong down 0.62 percent, white lintel down 0.54 percent, washed masoor and garlic down 0.35 percent, flour bag down 0.19 percent, and unpacked vegetable ghee down 0.04 percent.

Average prices of 10 items increased during the week compared to the previous seven-day period. Prices of farm hen eggs increased 5.96pc, tea 4.67pc, tomatoes 4.26pc, bananas 2.08pc, average quality georgette 0.95pc, unpacked red-chilli powder 0.35pc, average quality mustard oil 0.32pc, wheat 0.26pc, average quality mutton 0.13pc, and tinned vegetable ghee up 0.04pc.