ISLAMABAD, Aug 3: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) in the week ending August 2, for the lowest income group up to Rs.8,000, registered an increase of 0.40 per cent over the previous week.

The SPI for the week under review in the above mentioned group was recorded at 178.21 points as against 177.50 points registered in the previous week, according to provisional figures of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The weekly SPI has been computed with base 2007-2008=100, covering 17 urban centres and 53 essential items for all income groups and combined.

SPI for the combined group increased 0.69pc as it went up to 184.79 points from 183.53 points in the previous week.

SPI for the combined group increased 6.42pc in the week ending Aug 2, compared with the same period a year ago. As compared to last week, SPI for the income groups from Rs8001- 12,000, 12,001-18,000, 18001-35,000 and above Rs.35,000 increased by 0.45 per cent, 0.51 per cent, 0.63 per cent and 0.90 per cent respectively.

During the week under review, average prices of 12 items registered decreased, while that of 22 items increased with the remaining 19 items' prices unchanged.

The items which recorded a decrease in their average prices during the week under review included bananas, egg hen (farm), potatoes, garlic, moong pulse (washed), masoor pulse (washed), chicken live (farm), vegetable ghee (loose), mash pulse (washed), vegetable ghee (tin), cooking oil (tin) and firewood.

The items which registered an increase in their prices included tomatoes, petrol, LPG (11 kg cylender), kerosene oil, diesel, rice (irri-6), shirting, onions, milk (fresh), wheat flour (bag), rice basmati (broken), washing soap, lawn, long cloth, sugar, wheat, mutton, gram pulse (washed), red chillies (loose), curd, mustard oil and beef.

The items with no change in their average prices during the week under review included bread (plain), milk (powdered), gur, salt (powdered), tea (packet), cooked beef, cooked dal, tea (prepared), cigarettes, georgette, sandal (gents), chappal(gents), sandal (ladies), electric charges, gas charges (upto 100m3), energy savor, match box, telephone local call and bath soap (standard).—APP