SPI inflation surges by 19.21 percent

[LahoreEstate]

RECORDER REPORT
ISLAMABAD (March 21 2009): Weekly SPI inflation surged by 19.21 percent on week ended March 19 over the same period of last year, according to Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS). Official figures on Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) released here on Friday showed that inflation for the lowest income group of Rs 3000 monthly income was 19.89 percent, followed by 20.48 percent for families bracketed in Rs 3001-5000 income and 21.19 percent for Rs 5000-12000.

The inflation was recorded 18.48 for above Rs 12000. The SPI is computed with base 2000-2001=100 covering 17 urban centers and 53 essential items for all income groups and combined. SPI for the combined group registered a decline of 0.18 percent during the week with combined indices declining from 208.80 in the previous week to 208.43 to current week.

During the week under review average prices of 18 items registered decrease, while that of 12 items increase with the remaining 23 items prices unchanged. The items which registered increase in their prices during the week included, sugar, gur, voil (printed), electricity bulb (60wats), mutton, beef, lawn, cooked dal, cigarettes, wheat (average quality), cooked beef and bananas.

The prices of tomatoes, onions, potatoes, gram pulse (washed), chicken (farm), red chillies, rice (irri-6), masoor pulse (washed), moong pulse (washed), garlic, rice (Basmati broken), egg hen (farm), mustard oil, vegetable ghee (loose), LPG (11-kg cylinder), firewood, mash pulse (washed) and kerosene have declined during the week.

The items with no change in their average prices during the week under review included, wheat flour (average quality), bread plain (mid size), milk (fresh), milk (powdered), curd, vegetable ghee (tin), cooking oil (tin), salt (powdered), tea (packet), tea (prepared), coarse latha, shirting, sandal (gents), sandal (ladies), chappal, match box, washing soap, bath soap, gas charges (up to 3.3719 MMBTU), electricity charges (1-100 unit), petrol, diesel and telephone local call.

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