The weekly-based SPI inflation was up 7.41 percent over the same period of last year, hitting hard the low income group, as on week ending July 26, it remained 9.85 percent for low income group and 5.03 percent for those earning over Rs 12,000 per month.
Moreover, there was a perpetual rise in the prices of core food items such as wheat, tomatoes, pulses, oil and vegetable ghee. The statistics released by Federal Board of Statistic (FBS) showed Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) up by 7.40 percent compared to the same period of last year, with 0.23 percent surge in a week. The SPI inflation was recorded 155.79 on July 26 against 154.75 on June 28.
The inflation was 9.41 per cent during the week under review for the income group of Rs 3000 to Rs 5000 and 8.21 for those having income between Rs 5000 to Rs 12,000.
The SPI bulletin, based on data collected for about 53 items from 17 centres showed that 17 items registered increase, 11 declined, while price of 25 items remained unchanged.
Further analysis of data showed that 20 items were dearer by double-digit over last year. These included wheat flour 13.20 percent, masoor pulse washed 26.20 percent, gram pulse washed 10.66 percent, rice Irri-39.37 percent, vegetable ghee loose 42.38 percent, milk powder 21.59 percent, vegetable ghee (tin) 27.34 percent, cooking oil (tin) 27.17 percent, match box 26.15 percent.
Among these items, in a short span of one week, the prices of tomatoes increased by 29.82 percent per kg, masoor pulse washed 1.40 percent, mustard oil 0.69 percent, wheat flour 0.08 percent, gram pulse washed 0.59 percent, and washing soap 0.69 percent.
The average price of cement in various cities remained around Rs 232.25 per bag. Cement price was recorded Rs 238 in Rawalpindi, Rs 240 in Islamabad, Rs 215 in Lahore, Rs 245 in Karachi, Rs 235 in Hyderabad, Rs 213 in Peshawar and Rs 270 per bag in Quetta.