ISLAMABAD, Oct. 12: Inflation based on Consumer Price Index soared by 3.79 per cent during the first quarter of 2002-03 as compared to corresponding period of previous year.

According to the summary of inflation rates released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics here Saturday, the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), which is more relevant to the low-income households, recorded a quantum jump of 5.15pc in July-September. This was the highest increase in three years, as evident from 3.68pc increase in the same period of 2001-02 and 4.23pc increase in 2000-01.

The third measure of inflation, wholesale index (WPI) spurted by 3.22pc in the first 3 months of current financial year, compared to 5.71pc in 2001-02 and 4.01pc in 2000-01.

The data regarding September 2002 shows an increase of 5.11pc in SPI, 3.73pc in CPI and 3.95pc in WPI compared to corresponding month of previous year. The price spiral comes out to be substantial in September also when compared to August 2002: SPI by 1.04pc, CPI by 0.19pc and WPI by 0.59pc.

The CPI Index was recorded as 106.57 at the end of month under report with 2000-01 as the base year. Of the ten groups into which the CPI is divided, Education with group weight of 3.45 registered the highest increase of 0.35% in September over the preceding month. Compared to September 2001, CPI for education went up by 4.41pc and food by 4.85pc.

Presumably, due to withdrawal of GST on drugs, the CPI for Medicare declined by 1.81pc from August 2002 but shot up by 4.52pc as compared to corresponding month of previous year.

Although the Fuel & lighting group (mainly petrol/diesel, electricity etc.) increased by only 0.23pc when compared to August, 2002, it became dearer by a sharp 8.79pc when compared to September 2001.

The increases in other groups when compared to August 2002 were as follows:

* Apparel, textile & footwear: 0.12pc;

* House rent: 0.05pc;

* Household, furniture & equipment etc.: 0.13pc;

* Transport & communication: 0.29pc; and

* Cleaning, laundry & personal appearance: 0.27pc.

The main commodities, which showed an increase in their prices during September 2002 over August 2002 were as under:

FOOD & BEVERAGES: Onions (28.31pc), betel leaves & nuts (4.52pc), fish (3.07pc), wheat flour (2.28pc), wheat (2.13pc), vegetable ghee (1.65pc), potatoes (1.54pc), gur (1.34pc), rice (1.32pc) and bakery & confectionery (1.28pc).