The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), for the week ended on April 21 for the lowest income group up to Rs.3,000 has registered a nominal increase of 0.11 percent over the previous week.
SPI for the week under review in the above mentioned group was recorded at 301.24 points as against 300.90 points, registered in the previous week. According to provisional figures released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) here on Saturday, the weekly SPI has been 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, exhibited an increase of 0.25 percent as it went up from 287.45 points in the previous week to 288.17 points in the week under review. Compared to the corresponding week of last year, SPI for the combined group in the week under review augmented 16.52 percent.
SPI for income groups from Rs 3001-5000, Rs 5001-12000 and above Rs 12,000 increased by 0.13 percent, 0.21 percent and 0.27 percent respectively. During the week under review, average prices of 15 items declined, while that of 15 items increased and the remaining 20 items’ prices unchanged.
Items, which recorded a decline in their average prices during the week under review, included tomato, onions, garlic, wheat (average quality), masoor, (washed), chicken (farm), wheat flour, sugar, red chilies, gur, moong (washed), LPG cylinder (11kg), gram (washed), vegetable ghee (loose).
Commodities, which saw an increase in their prices included potato, milk fresh, cooking oil (tin), bananas, curd, bread plain (mid size), rice (irri-6), mash (washed), fire wood, lawn, beef, mutton, cooked beef (plate), cooked dal (plate), mustard oil and rice basmati.
Items, with no change in their average prices during the week under review, included milk (powdered), salt powder, tea packet, tea cup (prepared), cigarettes, sandal (gents), sandal (ladies), chapel, kerosene, electric bulb (60 watts), match box, washing soap, bath soap, gas charges, electric charges, petrol, diesel and local telephone call.
