ISLAMABAD, May 17: The Sensitive Price Index-based inflation rose 0.22 per cent for the week ending on May 16 as compared to the previous week, largely driven by increase in prices of food items.

The increase in prices of essential products is being witnessed for the past two consecutive weeks, suggested data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics released on Friday.

The increase in prices hit the lowest income group the most. SPI monitors prices of 53 items based on the survey of 17 cities and 53 markets.

Out of these, prices of 18 goods rose, eight items declined while 27 items remained unchanged during the week.

The food items which witnessed increase in their prices are: potatoes 8.90pc, onions 4.64pc, egg 4.64pc, gur 3.04pc, masoor washed 1.82pc, wheat flour 1.06pc, gram washed 1pc, moong washed 0.82pc, mash washed 0.73pc, cooking oil 0.66pc, curd 0.16pc, vegetable ghee 0.16pc, wheat 0.12pc and mustard oil 0.08pc.

The non-food items which witnessed increase in their prices included: bath soap lifebouy 1.60pc, shirting 0.44pc, and georgette 0.27pc, respectively.

Tomatoes, LPG 11kg cylinder, garlic, chicken, red chillies powder, bananas, lawn and sugar witnessed slight decline.