ISLAMABAD: Inflation measured through Sensitive Price Index (SPI) posted a decline of 0.68 per cent for the week ended on April 14, data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed on Friday.

The decline was posted in the week under review following it posted the highest increase since November last week. A slight decline in SPI is due to a decrease in prices of 10 essential food items.

For the lowest income group earning below Rs17,732 per month, the SPI decreased by 1.01pc and for the group earning above Rs44,175, it declined by 0.56pc.

The food items prices of which slightly declined during the week under review are tomatoes 34.14pc, onions 8.46pc, potatoes 3.73pc, garlic 3.68pc, bananas 2.61pc, mustard oil 0.34pc, wheat flour 0.33pc and sugar 0.25pc.

The non-food items’ prices which declined are LPG 1.25pc and firewood 0.80pc.

On the other hand, an increase was observed in the prices of cigarettes 5.46pc, eggs 2.12pc and pulse masoor 1.15pc. During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 17 items increased 10 items decreased and 24 items remained constant.

Published in Dawn, April 16th, 2022