Weekly inflation up more than 20pc

[LahoreEstate]

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) on Friday reported that weekly inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) of 53 daily-use kitchen items for the week ended on January 15, has increased by 20.50 per cent as compared to the corresponding week of the last fiscal year.

The figures showed a slight increase in inflation percentage during the week and went up from 19.25 per cent in the previous week to 20.50 per cent. The bulletin, based on data collected from 17 urban centres, showed increase in prices of 12 essential commodities, decline in 12, while prices of 29 items remained stable.

The most depressing aspect was that in a span of one week various kitchen and other necessary items became very costlier.

SPI inflation was recorded at 19.67 per cent for low income families belonging to the Rs3000 income group during the week, followed by 20.27 per cent for families falling in the Rs3001 to Rs5000 income group, and 21.20 per cent for Rs5001 to Rs12000 income group. Inflation during the week under review was recorded at 20.57 per cent for families earning above Rs12000 monthly income.

According to the price trend during the week under review, price of per kilogram loose vegetable ghee increased to Rs104.24 from Rs100.09, LPG (11 kg cylinder) to Rs859.12 from Rs831.06, gur per kg to Rs42.20 from Rs40.91, mustard oil per kg to Rs143.47 from Rs141.52, garlic per kg to Rs44.03 from Rs43.57, chicken (farm) per kg to Rs90.35 from Rs89.50, gram pulse washed per kg to Rs60.09 from Rs59.66, washing soap nylon cake to Rs12.65 from Rs12.56, tea (prepared) cup to Rs8.50 from Rs8.44, masoor pulse washed per kg to Rs129.26 from Rs128.51 0.58, wheat average quality per kg to Rs24.70 from Rs24.58, bread plain mid size each to Rs24.15 from Rs24.09, cooked beef plate each to Rs40.40 from Rs40.30, fresh milk per liter to Rs36.19 from Rs36.16, mutton per kg to Rs258.38 from Rs258.23, curd per kg to Rs43.07 from Rs43.05, beef per kg to Rs143.02 from Rs142.97.

Average prices of the following items declined during the week, ie tomatoes per kg to Rs22.17 from Rs25.40, potatoes per kg to Rs16.03 from Rs16.85, egg hen (farm) per dozen to Rs56.22 from Rs59.02, cooking oil (tin) per 2.5 liter to Rs338.88 from Rs351.47, onions per kg to Rs21.54 from Rs22.25, firewood per 40 kg to Rs267.21 from Rs271.03, rice basmati broken per kg to Rs44.52 from Rs45.05, vegetable ghee (tin) per 2.5 kg to Rs329.71 from Rs331.47, red chillies per kg to Rs135.76 from Rs136.35, rice irri-6 per kg to Rs36.36 from Rs36.47, wheat flour average quality per kg to Rs25.23 from Rs25.30, mash pulse washed per kg to Rs75.88 from Rs75.92, bananas per dozen to Rs34.43 from Rs34.44, moong pulse washed per kg to Rs48.16 from Rs48.17.

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