SPI inflation up 0.36pc WoW

ABDUL RASHEED AZAD

ISLAMABAD: The Sensitive Price Index (SPI) inflation for combined income groups has witnessed an increase of 0.36 percent during the week ended on January 9, 2020 against the preceding week ended January 2, 2020, as it jumped up from 131.84 points to 132.32 points.

While on annual basis the SPI for the combined income group has increased by 20.07 percent as it jumped from 110.20 points to 132.32 points, said SPI inflation related data released here on Friday by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The PBS weekly inflation related data is based on 2015-16 mechanism covering 17 urban and 51 essential items.

According to the data, SPI for lowest income group with monthly income of Rs 17,732 went up by 0.45 percent on weekly basis from 135.21 points to 135.82 points, while on annual basis it went up by 19.15 percent from 113.99 points to 135.82 points. For the income group of Rs 17,732-22,888, weekly inflation registered an increase of 0.44 percent from 120.94 points to 131.51 points and on annual basis it witnessed an increase of 20.05 percent from 109.55 points to 131.51 points.

For the monthly income group of Rs 22,889-29,517, the SPI jumped up by 0.42 percent from 132.65 points to 133.21 points and on annual basis it went up by 22.67 percent from 108.59 points to 133.21 points. Weekly inflation for the income group with monthly income of Rs 29,518-44,175 witnessed an increase of 0.41 percent from 129.75 points to 130.28 points and on annual basis SPI for the above income group went up by 21.91 percent from 106.87 points to 130.28 points.

For the income group of Rs 44,175 or above monthly income, weekly inflation went up by 0.30 percent from 133.82 points to 134.22 points and on annual basis SPI for the income group witnessed an increase of 19.03 percent from 112.76 points to 134.22 points.

During the week under review prices of following 27 commodities witnessed an increase; gram pulse, Mash pulse, banana, tomatoes, Moong pulse, garlic, potatoes, gur, wheat flour, match box, Masoor pulse, sugar, vegetable ghee, vegetable oil, chicken, washing soap, mustard oil, basmati rice, Irri-6 rice, beef, cooked beef, liquefied petroleum gas cylinder and others.

While during the week under review only onion’s price registered a reduction.

According to PBS, during the period prices of 23 items remained unchanged, including, plain bread, mutton, fresh milk, salt powder, chilli powder, Lipton Yellow Label tea, gent sandals, super petrol, high speed diesel, match box, ladies sandals, telephone call charges, clothing, firewood and others.