ISLAMABAD : The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ended on April 25, for the lowest income group up to Rs 8,000, slightly decreased by 0.01 per cent as compared to the previous week. The SPI for the week under review in the above mentioned group was recorded at 185.76 points against 185.78 points registered in the previous week, according to provisional figures of PBS.
The weekly SPI has been computed with base 2007 2008=100, covering 17 urban centers and 53 essential items for all income groups and combined.
The SPI for the combined group, however increased by 0.05 per cent as it went up from 191.58 points in the previous week to 191.68 points in the week under review.
As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined group in the week under review witnessed increase of 4.44 percent.
As compared to the last week, the SPI for the income groups from Rs 8001 12,000, 12,001 18,000, 18001 35,000 and above Rs 35,000 increased by 0.02 percent, 0.04 percent, 0.06 and 0.07 percent respectively.
During the week under review average prices of 15 items registered decrease, while that of 12 items increase with the remaining 26 items' prices unchanged.
The items which registered decrease in their prices during the week under review included tomatoes, wheat, L.P.G. (11 kg cylinder), red chillies powder (loose), egg (farm), bananas, gram pulse (washed), mash pulse (washed), wheat flour, garlic, mustard oil, vegetable ghee (loose), potatoes, sugar and moong pulse (washed).
The items which recorded increase in their average prices included match box, onions, chicken live (farm), gur, masoor pulse (washed), energy savor, milk fresh, curd, firewood, cooking oil (tin), rice IRRI-6 and rice basmati (broken).
The items with no change in their average prices during the week under review included bread plain, beef, mutton, milk powder, vegetable ghee, salt powdered (loose), tea, cooked beef (plate), cooked dal, tea prepared, cigarettes, long cloth, shirting, lawn, georgette, sandal gents, chappal gents, sandal ladies, electric charges, gas charges, kerosene oil, washing soap, petrol, diesel, telephone local and bath soap.