The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ended on November 1, for the lowest income group up to Rs 8,000, registered decrease of 0.27 per cent as compared to the previous week. The SPI for the week under review in the above mentioned group was recorded at 182.01 points against 182.50 points registered in the previous week, according to provisional figures of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The weekly SPI has been computed with base 2007-2008=100, covering 17 urban centers and 53 essential items for all income groups and combined.
The SPI for the combined group decreased by 0.14 per cent as it declined from 187.85 points in the previous week to 187.58 points in the week under review.
As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined group in the week under review witnessed increase of 5.57 percent.
As compared to the last week, the SPI for the income groups from Rs.8001-12,000, 12,001-18,000, 18001-35,000 and above Rs.35,000 decreased by 0.21 percent, 0.19 percent, 0.14 and 0.08 percent respectively.
During the week under review average prices of 17 items registered decrease, while that of 7 items increase with the remaining 29 items’ prices unchanged.
The items which recorded decrease in their average prices during the week under review included tomatoes, onions, potatoes, garlic, vegetable ghee (loose), gram pulse (washed), bananas, moong pulse (washed), cooking oil (tin), sugar, vegetable ghee (tin), masoor pulse (washed), bread (plain), gur, red chillies (powder), rice (irri-6) and mustard oil.
The items which registered increase in their prices included chicken live (farm), tea (packet), egg hen (farm), firewood, wheat flour (bag), wheat and LPG(11 kg cylender).
The items with no change in their average prices during the week under review included rice basmati (broken), beef, mutton, milk (fresh), curd, milk (powdered), mash pulse (washed), salt (powdered), cooked beef, cooked dal, tea (prepared), cigarettes, long cloth, shirting, lawn, georgette, sandal (gents), chappal (gents), sandal (ladies), electric charges, gas charges (upto 100m3), kerosene, energy savor (14 wats), washing soap, match box, petrol, diesel, telephone local call and bath soap.