ISLAMABAD, Dec 1: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week, ended on November 29 for income group upto Rs3,000, has registered 0.78 per cent decrease over previous week, showing a decline in the prices of essential kitchen items.

In terms of percentage change, the SPI for the week under review in the above group was recorded at 104.00 as against 104.82 recorded in the previous week, according to the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS).

The data regarding price movements comprises 51 essential items, including four items of utilities.

During the week under review, average prices of 16 items decreased, average prices of 7 items increased and those of 28 items prices remained unchanged.

The items which registered decrease in their average prices during the week under review, included tomatoes, onions, potatoes, wheat, sugar, gur, wheat flour, masoor pulse, moong pulse, vegetable ghee (tin), cooking oil, mash pulse, mustard oil, gram pulse, cooked beef (plate) and kerosene.

The items which registered increase in their average prices during the week under review included garlic, mutton, chicken farm, eggs, bath soap, bananas and vegetable ghee (loose).

The items with no change in their prices during the week under review included rice basmati (broken), rice irri-6, beef (with bone), bread (plain), milk fresh, milk powdered (Nido), curd, salt powdered, red chillies (powdered), tea, tea (prepared), cooked dal (plate), cigarettes (K-2), coarse latha, lawn, viol, shirting, sandal Peshawari (Bata), sandal ladies (Bata), chappal sponge (Bata), firewood, electric bulb (60 watt), match box, washing soap, gas charges 100 cm, electricity charges, petrol and telephone charges.

Meanwhile, the SPI with base 1990-91 for the lowest income group upto Rs1,500 (47 essential items) for the week ended on November 29 has also recorded a decrease of 0.58 per cent over previous week.

In terms of percentage change, the SPI for the week under review in the above group was recorded at 245.05 as against 246.49 recorded in the previous week. — APP