ISLAMABAD: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ended on Oct 6 registered a nominal increase of 0.06 per cent for the lowest income group (up to Rs8,000) over the previous week.

According to Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) data, SPI for the week under review was recorded at 169.44 points as against 169.33 points in the previous week.

However, SPI for the combined group registered an increase of 0.26 per cent as it went up from 175.24 points in the previous week to 175.70 points in the week under review. As compared to the corresponding week of last year, SPI for the combined group in the week under review witnessed an increase of 8.74 per cent.

As compared to the last week, SPI for the income groups from Rs8001-12,000, 12,001 to 18,000, 18001 to 35,000 and above Rs35,000 increased by 0.09 per cent, 0.14 per cent, 0.22 per cent and 0.41 per cent, respectively.

During the week under review, average prices of 24 items increased while 11 items prices decreased, and 18 items’ prices remained unchanged.

The items which recorded decrease in their average prices during the week under review included garlic, banana, potato, sugar, chicken live (farm), LPG (11kg cylinder), vegetable ghee, rice (Irri-6), moong pulse (washed), lawn, mash pulse(washed).

The items which registered increase in their prices included petrol, tomato, onion, red chillies (powder), firewood, diesel, gur, salt (powdered), washing soap, mutton, milk (fresh), egg hen (farm), georgette, cooked beef, beef, kerosene, cloth (coarse latha), shirting, masoor pulse (washed), rice basmati (broken), curd, mustard oil, wheat and wheat flour.

The items with no change in their average prices during the week under review included bread (plain), milk (powdered), cooking oil (tin), vegetable ghee (tin), gram pulse (washed), tea, cooked dal, tea (prepared), cigarettes, sandal (gents), chappal, sandal (ladies), electricity charges, gas charges, energy savers, match box, telephone, bath soap.—APP