March 09, 2008	Sunday	Safar 30, 1429

ISLAMABAD, March 8: The weekly inflation, measured through the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), increased by the highest-ever 14.53 per cent during the week ended on March 7, over the corresponding period last year, according to the Statistics Division data on Saturday.

The impact of the increase in the SPI was hard-hitting for people from the low income group as compared to the rich, mainly due to recent increase in domestic oil prices. This highest-ever increase in inflation occurred on the back of an increase in the prices of 30 items of daily use during the period under review.

The SPI witnessed an increase of 17.83 per cent and 16.87 per cent, respectively, for households in the two lower income brackets of up to Rs3,000 and Rs3,001-5,000. For households in the income brackets of Rs5,001-12,000, the increase in the SPI was in the range of 15.40 per cent, while for households in the income basket of over Rs12,000, the inflation registered a growth of 12.54 per cent over the week last year.

As compared to the previous week, the SPI registered an increase of 2.54 per cent for almost all income groups. Prices of 30 items went up as compared to the previous week.

The prices of tomatoes increased by 24.65 per cent to Rs36 per kg against Rs28.88 while an increase of 11.99 per cent was witnessed in chicken prices which stood at Rs84.37 per kg during the week under review as against Rs75.34.

The price of petrol increased by 9.42 per cent to Rs58.90 per litre from Rs53.83 and of diesel increased by 9.42 per cent to Rs41.37 per litre against Rs37.86.

The vegetable ghee prices increased by 9.02 per cent to Rs134.13 per kg against Rs123.13; kerosene 7.35 per cent to Rs45.55 per litre from Rs42.43; cooking oil tin 4.47 per cent to Rs347.76 per 2.5 litre as against Rs332.88.

Vegetable ghee tin prices increased 4.32 per cent to Rs340.88 per 2.5 kg as against Rs326.76, mustard oil prices increased by 3.38 per cent to Rs140.10 per kg against Rs135.52.

The gram pulse washed price increased by 2.63 per cent to Rs43.73 per kg as against Rs42.61, cooked dal plate 2.59 per cent to Rs20.99 each against Rs20.46, masoor pulse washed 2.53 per cent to Rs79.97 per kg as against Rs78.

Price of red chillies went up by 2.49 per cent to Rs141.03 per kg as against Rs137.61, wheat flour was up 2.29 per cent to Rs17.01 per kg against Rs16.63.

Banana prices increased by 1.92 per cent to Rs34.46 per dozen as against Rs33.81.

Rice-irri-6 price increased by 1.89 per cent to Rs27.52 per kg against Rs27.01, rice basmati broken 1.80 per cent to Rs37.92 per kg as against Rs37.25, curd 1.67 per cent to Rs35.96 per kg against Rs35.37 and milk fresh 1.55 per cent to Rs30.73 per kg against Rs30.26.

The price of cooked beef plate increased by 1.31 per cent to Rs34.02 each against Rs33.58, potatoes 1.04 per cent to Rs11.63 per kg against Rs11.51, salt powdered 0.95 per cent to Rs5.29 per kg against Rs5.24, tea prepared 0.84 per cent to Rs7.18 against Rs7.12, onions 0.69 per cent to Rs11.70 per kg against Rs11.62.

An increase of 0.59 per cent was witnessed in the price of in coarse latha to Rs39.46 per kg from Rs39.23 while 0.58 per cent increase was seen in washing soap nylon which increased to Rs10.41 per cake as against Rs10.35.

Mash washed increased by 0.35 per cent to Rs71.56 per kg against Rs71.31. A rise of 0.25 per cent was seen in the price of lawn to Rs81.19 per metre as against Rs80.99. There was a 0.12 per cent increase in the prices of mutton which increased to Rs238.99 per kg as against Rs238.70 and 0.04 per cent increase was seen in moong (washed) to Rs53.64 per kg against Rs53.62.