ISLAMABAD: Weekly inflation, as measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), registered an increase of 0.44 percent for the combined consumption groups in the week ended October 3, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) said on Friday. According to PBS data, the SPI for the week under review in the aforementioned group was recorded at 319.17 points against 317.76 points during the previous week. Compared to the corresponding week last year, the SPI for the combined consumption group saw an increase of 13.18 percent in the week under review. Weekly SPI with base year 2015-16 =100 covers 17 urban centers and 51 major items for all expenditure groups. Likewise, the SPI for the lowest consumption group up to Rs 17,732 saw an increase of 0.68 percent to 313.20 points from 311.09 points last week. SPI for consumption groups Rs 17,732 to Rs 22,888; Rs 22,889-29,517; Rs 29,518-44,175 and above Rs 44,175 rose by 0.63 per cent, 0.53 per cent, 0.49 per cent and 0.36 per cent respectively. During the week, out of 51 items, 21 (41.18%) items became more expensive, 10 (19.61%) items became cheaper and 20 (39.21%) items remained stable. Among the items that recorded a significant week-on-week decrease in average prices were eggs (1.45%), sugar (1.39%), diesel (1.32%), bananas (1.29%), potatoes (1.08% ), petrol (0.81%), pulse porridge (0.80%), gur (0.59%), broken basmati rice (0.53%) and pulse masoor (0.38%). Among the commodities that recorded a significant week-on-week increase in average prices were tomatoes (18.51%), onions (5.89%), chicken (3.72%), wheat flour (3.63%), garlic (2, 47%), legumes. gram (1.41%), LPG (0.98%), matchbox (0.97%), Moong pulse (0.92%), mustard oil (0.58%), firewood (0.51 %) and cigarettes (0.10%). Commodities that recorded declines included wheat flour (35.67%), petrol (23.51%), diesel (22.48%), chilli powder (20.00%), Q1 electricity charges (13 .47%), sugar (12.65%), cooking oil 5 liters (10.74%), broken basmati rice (10.34%), pulse masoor (7.90%), vegetable ghee 2.5 kg ( 6.04%), gur (5.66%) and LPG (3.94%). Commodities that recorded a year-on-year increase in average prices included Q1 Gas Charges (570.00%), Gram Pulses (65.33%), Onions (43.49%), Tomatoes (41.58%), Dried milk (25.36%). %), beef (24.97%), chicken (24.90%), shirt (20.17%), legume melon (16.29%), powdered salt (15.38%), georgette ( 13.81%) and energy saving (12.87%).
