ISLAMABAD, May 19: The Sensitive Price Indicator went up by 0.17 per cent during the week ending May 14 as compared to the previous week, according to the weekly price statement issued by the Federal Bureau of Statistics.

As a result, the combined SPI index climbed to 107.20 from 107.02 of previous week, with 2000-01 as the base year. This was 3.39pc above the level prevailing during the corresponding period of previous year.

The lowest increase in SPI — 0.08pc — was for the lowest income households with monthly incomes up to Rs3,000. It climbed by 0.10pc for the households in the income bracket Rs3,001-5,000, by 0.15pc for those in the income bracket Rs5,001-12,000 and by 0.17pc for households with incomes above Rs12,000.

The period under review saw price spiral in respect of 14 out of 53 essential items constituting the SPI basket. Rather intriguing is the fact that the prices of chicken farm and farm eggs have snowballed at a time when the weather has become hotter and their consumption is lower.

The average price of farm eggs climbed to Rs28.21 per dozen, up 9.38pc from previous week, while chicken became dearer by 0.49pc with their price based on data collected in 17 cities of Pakistan rising to Rs66.31 per kg, from Rs62.95 per kg of the previous week.

The prices of other 12 items increased as compared to previous week as follows: Bananas (6.97pc), potatoes (2.83pc), voile printed (1.52pc), beef (1.34pc), lawn (1.04pc), washing soap (nylon) (0.80pc), gur (0.30pc), mutton (0.25pc), wheat (0.24pc), garlic (0.21pc), rice Irri-6 (0.16pc) and vegetable ghee (loose) (0.05pc).

Significant among the 13 items which registered some reduction in prices were: diesel, petrol, kerosene oil and LPG (11 kg cylinder). Their cost, thanks to recent events on the world scene, came down by 0.20pc, 0.07pc, 0.27pc and 1.05pc, respectively, as compared to previous week.