SPI inflation up by 9.34 percent year-on-year

The weekly Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) inflation surged by 9.34 percent year-on-year during the week ended February 20, 2014, reflecting an increase in prices of some essential commodities. The provisional data, released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, shows that the SPI for the week under review was recorded at 208.85 points against 191.01 over the same period of last year.
However, SPI inflation increased by 0.61 percent this week as compared to the previous week, rising from 2007.59 points to 208.85 points The weekly SPI has been computed with base 2007-2008=100, covering 17 urban centres and 53 essential items for all income groups. The SPI for the lowest income group up to Rs 8,000 registered an increase of 7.54 percent during the week under review as compared to the same period last year.
During the week, average prices of 18 items registered an increase, while that of four registered a decrease. The prices of 31 essential items remained unchanged during the week under review. The items which recorded increase in their average prices included tomatoes, chicken live , bananas , eggs , onions, masoor pulse washed, red chillies powder loose, beef , mutton, wheat, LPG ( 11 kg cylinder), mustard oil, vegetable ghee loose , georgette , moong pulse washed , washing soap (200-250 GM), sugar and wheat flour bag. The four essential items which registered decrease in prices during the week under review included potatoes, garlic rice basmati broken and gram pulse washed.
The 31 essential items' which remained unchanged during the week under review included rice IRRI-6, bread plain medium size , milk fresh, curd, milk powdered NIDO 400gm , cooking oil (tin) 2.5 Ltr. ,veg. ghee (tin) 2.5kg ,mash pulse washed, gur, salt powdered loose (lahori), tea (Yellow Lable 200 gm), cooked beef plate, cooked dal plate, tea prepared (sada) cup, cigarettes k-2, long cloth, shirting, lawn, sandal gents bata , chappal spung Bata (gents) , sandal ladies Bata pair ,electric charges, gas charges, kerosene oil, firewood, energy savor, match box, petrol, diesel, Telephone Local call and bath soap Lifebouy (standard).