The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ended on July 4 for the lowest income group up to Rs 8,000 registered an increase of 0.55 percent as compared to the previous week.
The SPI for the week under review in the above mentioned group was recorded at 194.93 points against 193.86 points registered in the previous week, according to data 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 increased by 0.55 percent as it went up from 199.44 points in the previous week to 200.53 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 9.22 percent.
Compared to last week, the SPI for the income groups from Rs 8001- 12,000, Rs 12,001-18,000, Rs 18,001-35,000 and above Rs 35,000 increased by 0.52 percent, 0.53 percent, 0.54 and 0.57 percent respectively.
During the week, average prices of three items registered decrease, while that of 34 items increase with the remaining 16 items’ prices unchanged.
The items which registered decrease in their prices during the week under review included chicken live (farm), gram pulse washed and sugar.
The items which recorded increase in their average prices included potatoes, onions, tomatoes, bananas, lawn, cigarettes, match boxes, diesel, petrol, LPG (11 kg cylinder), garlic, kerosene oil, masoor pulse (washed), eggs (farm), rice IRRI-6, vegetable ghee (tin), moong pulse, red chilli powder (loose), bath soap, energy savers, tea, cooked beef, rice basmati (broken), wheat flour, curd, milk fresh, bread plain, gur, long cloth, wheat, cooking oil (tin), vegetable ghee (loose) and washing soap.
The items with no change in their average prices during the week under review included beef, mutton, milk powdered, mustard oil, mash pulse (washed), salt powdered (loose), tea prepared, shirting, georgette, sandal gents, chappal (gents), sandal (ladies), electric charges, gas charges, firewood and telephone calls (local).