The weekly inflation, measured through ''Sensitive Price Indicator'', was up by 12.04 percent for the week ended on February, 7, 2008 over the same period of last year, the reason being surge in prices of kitchen items, said Federal Bureau of Statistic on Saturday.
The increase in prices of essential commodities affected all segments of the society, but the Rs 3000 income group families were hit hard with the cost of essential food items going up by 14.09 percent.
There was no let-up for the poor as increase in prices of these items compelled people to stand in long queues outside Utility Stores outlets with the hope of getting some kitchen items at subsidised rates. According to FBS, regular increase in prices of 19 essential kitchen commodities was one of the key factors contributing to inflation.
The weekly inflation registered an increase of 14.09 percent and 13.88 percent for the Rs 3000 and Rs 3,000-5,000 income groups, respectively, over the same period of last year. It was followed by 12.92 percent and 10.28 percent for Rs 5000 to 12,000 and above Rs 12,000 income groups. The combined SPI, after 0.10 percent increase soared to 166.35 percent on February 7 over last week''s figure of 166.18 percent.
The SPI bulletin, based on data of 53 items collected from 17 urban centres, showed increase in prices of 19 essential commodities, decline in 10, while prices of 24 commodities remained stable, yet higher as compared to last year.
The 19 essential commodities which registered increase in their prices included tomatoes with 18.58 percent increase on February 7 are being sold at Rs 38.76 per kilogram, masoor pulse at Rs 71.39 after an increase of 4.78 percent during the week; eggs at Rs 62.13 per dozen, rice basmati broken at Rs 35.88 per kg, gram pulse washed at Rs 41.94 per kg, bananas at Rs 32.16 per dozen, vegetable ghee loose at Rs 114. 49 per kg, mutton at Rs 234.22 per kg, moong pulse washed at Rs 50.89 per kg.
The prices of 24 items which remained unchanged were dearer in double digits compared to last year. These included tomatoes, masoor pulse washed, rice Irri, rice basmati, eggs hen farm, cooked beef plate, vegetable ghee loose, milk fresh, curd, wheat average quality, LPG 11 kg cylinder, milk powdered, mustard oil, cooking oil, salt powdered, tea packet, match box, firewood and washing soap.