ISLAMABAD - Inflation measured through the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) recorded decrease of 1.37 per cent during the week ended on March 17 following the announcement of Prime Minister’s relief package.
SPI-based inflation registered decline of 1.37 per cent during the week ended on March 17, according to the latest data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The SPI was recorded at 169.06 points during the week ended March 17, 2022 against 171.41 points during the week ended on March 10.
Weekly inflation has dipped due to the Prime Minister’s relief package of reducing petrol and diesel prices to control the inflation rate. However, market sources believed that inflation is likely to increase in the weeks to come due to advent of Ramazan. Prices of basic food commodities especially vegetables, fruits and other items increase in holy month due to increase in demand and profiteering.
The year on year trend, according to the PBS data, recorded increase of 15.12 per cent, tomatoes (90.53 per cent), LPG (73.18 per cent), garlic (65.76 per cent), mustard oil (58.57 per cent), vegetable ghee 1kg (55.16 per cent), cooking oil 5 litre (50.75 per cent), vegetable Ghee 2.5kg (49.90 per cent), washing soap (39.17 per cent), pulse Masoor (37.23 per cent), petrol (33.42 per cent), beef (24.84 per cent) and diesel (23.75 per cent. Meanwhile major decrease was observed in the prices of chillies powder (37.44 per cent), pulse Moong (29.62 per cent), eggs (18.49 per cent), sugar (10.92 per cent), potatoes (8.76 per cent) and electricity charges for Q1 (0.16 per cent).
The Sensitive Price Indicator for the lowest consumption group up to Rs17,732 witnessed 0.99 per cent decrease and went down to 177.17 this week from 178.95 points in last week. Meanwhile, the SPI for the consumption groups from Rs17,732-22,888; Rs22,889-29,517; Rs29,518-44,175 and above Rs 44,175 also decreased by 1.61 per cent, 1.12 per cent, 0.92 per cent and 1.23 per cent respectively.
During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 29 items increased, 9 items decreased and 13 items remained stable, said the PBS in weekly SPI data.
The commodities, which recorded increase in their average prices, included vegetable Ghee 1kg (6.25 per cent), vegetable ghee 2.5 kg (4.56 per cent), cooking oil 5 litre (3.62 per cent), lawn (3.14 per cent), shirting (2.57 per cent), onions (2.06 per cent), georgette (2.00 per cent), cooked beef (1.98 per cent), long cloth (1.82 per cent), bananas (1.76 per cent), match box (1.60 per cent), eggs (1.39 per cent), mustard oil (1.27 per cent) mutton (1.03 per cent), pulse Moong (washed) (0.97 per cent), salt powdered (0.92 per cent) and Sufi washing soap 250gm cake (0.73 per cent).
The commodities which recorded decrease in their prices during the period under review included tomatoes (12.04 per cent), chicken (8.39 per cent), garlic (2.04 per cent), sugar (0.49 per cent), LPG 11kg cylinder, potatoes (0.41 per cent), pulse gram (0.31 per cent), pulse mash (0.14 per cent), electricity charges for Q1 (9.81 per cent) and LPG (1.58 per cent).
The commodities which prices remained unchanged during the period included bread plain (small size), powdered milk NIDO 390gm polybag, chilies powder National 200gm packet, cigarettes Capstan 20’S packet, 5 gents sandal Bata, gas charges upto 3.3719 MMBTU, firewood whole, petrol super, hi-speed diesel and telephone call charges.