Headline inflation increases by 4.21 percent in October

The headline inflation increased by 4.21 percent during October 2016 over the same month a year ago, following surge in the prices of kitchen items, vegetables pulses, meat as well as medicine, according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The CPI inflation released by PBS here on Tuesday during a press briefing noted that 3.95 percent inflation rate in the country during July-October 2016 over the same period of last fiscal year and 0.81 percent increase in October, 2016 over previous month of September.
An increase of 3.58 percent in (price) or inflation rate was noted in non-food and non-alcoholic beverages during October 2016 against the same month of last fiscal year, 3.66 percent in non-perishable food items, 3.19 percent in perishable food items and 17.56 percent in alcoholic beverages and tobacco 17.56. An increase of inflation rate of 4.19 was recorded in clothing and footwear during October 2016 over October 2015, 4.90 percent in housing water, electricity, gas and other fuels; furnishing and household equipment maintenance, health 3.33, etc. However, there was a decrease in inflation rate of 3.07 percent in transport largely.
PBS, which collects the retail and wholesale prices and computes them on monthly basis, stated that an increase of 37.48 percent was noted in the price of garlic, 45.20 percent in Lederplex and 33.80 percent in Entox Tablet. The price of pulse gram increased by 33.72 percent in October 2016 over the same month a year ago, lady finger 32.02 percent, gram whole black 31.91 percent, Guava 31.33 percent, & Besan 30.65 percent. The price of chicken soared by 26.04 percent, postal registration charges 25.93 percent, Dettol Medium 25.09 percent, tablet disprin 24.09 percent and tablet Panadol plain/Extra 22 percent as well as Brinjal 21.42 percent.
A significant increase in the price of turai, 21.69 percent, was noted in October 2016 over previous month of September 2016, chillies green 21.66 percent, chicken 20.04 percent, Karaila 17.20 percent, lady finger 16.35 percent, bottle gourd 13.84 percent, etc. A decrease of 17.81 percent was noted in price of pomegranate in October 2016 over September, radish 11.86 percent, tinda 9.82 percent, ginger 9.62 percent, bananas 8.68 percent, lemon 7.38 percent, cucumber 7.38 percent, onion 7.28 percent, and ice 7.14 percent, etc.