ISLAMABAD: Inflation measured through the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) posted a decline of 0.50 per cent for the week ended on Dec 30 driven by a sharp decline in the prices of essential food items, data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed on Friday.

The data released show that SPI-based inflation posted a negative growth after an increase for the past two consecutive weeks. In Nove­mber, the highest jump of 1.81pc in weekly inflation was recorded.

For the lowest income group earning below Rs17, 732 per month, the SPI dropped by 0.80 per cent and for the group earning above Rs44, 175, it dipped by 0.40pc. This was mainly due to a decline of 30.92pc in price of tomatoes, potatoes 7.92pc, chilies powdered 5.78pc, onions 2.39pc, wheat flour 0.42pc and pulse mash 0.22pc. In non-food items, only price of LPG declined by 1.59pc.

The items whose prices increased during the week included bananas 3.19pc, chicken 2.16pc, tea prepared 2.05pc, eggs 1.45pc and pulse masoor 1.10pc. During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 22 items increased, seven items decreased and 22 items remained constant.

Published in Dawn, January 1st, 2022