March 23, 2008	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 14, 1429

ISLAMABAD, March 22: The weekly inflation, measured through the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), increased by 17.07 per cent during the week ended on March 21, over the corresponding period last year, according to the Statistics Division data issued on Saturday.

The seven per cent increase in the oil prices further pushed up prices of 27 goods, mostly essential kitchen items, which pushed the overall inflation to a new height, witnessed for the first time in the country’s history.

The SPI is on the rise for the last three consecutive weeks on the back of rising domestic oil and electricity prices, mostly hitting the people from the low income group as compared to the rich.

Last week, the SPI witnessed an increase of over 15 per cent, which rose from over 14 per cent in the previous week.

The SPI witnessed an increase of 19.03 per cent and 18.40 per cent, respectively, for households in the two lower income brackets of up to Rs3,000 and Rs3,001 to 5,000.

For households in the income brackets of Rs5,001 to 12,000, the increase in the SPI was in the range of 17.61 per cent, while for households in the income basket of over Rs12,000, the inflation registered a growth of 15.76 per cent over the week last year.

As compared to the previous week, the SPI registered an increase of one per cent for almost all income groups.

Prices of 27 items went up as compared to the previous week.

Prices of tomatoes increased by 9.74 per cent to Rs40.24 per kg as against Rs36.67 while an increase of 6.98 per cent was witnessed in petrol which stood at Rs63.01 per litres during the week under review as against Rs58.90, diesel increased by 6.96 per cent to Rs44.25 per litres from Rs41.37, and of kerosene by 6.12 per cent to Rs48.38 per litres as against Rs45.59.

The chicken prices increased by 5.37 per cent to Rs95.54 per kg as against Rs90.67; red chillies increased by 4.92 per cent to Rs153.40 per kg from Rs146.20; cooking oil tin 2.25 per cent to Rs374.76 per kg from Rs366.53 and cooked dal plate 1.98pc to Rs21.67 per kg as against Rs21.25.

Vegetable ghee tin prices increased by 1.63 per cent to Rs363.29 per 2.5 kg as against Rs357.47, cooked beef plate increased by 1.47pc to Rs34.52 each as against Rs34.02.

The wheat flour price increased by 1.34 per cent to Rs17.37 per kg as against Rs17.14, rice irri-6 witnessed an increase of 1.15 per cent to Rs28.10 per kg against Rs27.78, salt powdered increased by 1.13 per cent to Rs5.35 per kg as against Rs5.29. Prices of milk fresh went up by 0.84 per cent to Rs31.34 per kg as against Rs31.08, gram pulse washed was up 0.82 per cent to Rs44.31 per kg as against Rs43.40 and lawn 0.60pc to Rs83.90 per metres against Rs83.40.

Masoor pulse washed prices increased by 0.48 per cent to Rs80.91 per kg as against Rs80.52, Lifebouy witnessed an increase of by 0.32 per cent to Rs18.94 per cake as against Rs18.88, bread plain mid size went up by 0.31 per cent to Rs19.62 each as against Rs19.56.

Price of basmati broken increased by 0.29 per cent to Rs38.69 per kg as against Rs38.58.

There was an increase of 0.28 per cent in washing soap nylon to Rs10.68 per cake as against Rs10.65; mash pulse washed 0.19pc to Rs72.17 per kg against Rs72.03; coarse latha 0.15pc to Rs39.90 per metre against Rs39.84; firewood 0.13pc to Rs234.17 per 40 kg against Rs233.87; mutton 0.09pc to Rs239.36 per kg against Rs239.14 and 0.06pc in beef to Rs123.25 per kg against Rs123.18.