ISLAMABAD: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ended on Dec 29 for the lowest income group up to Rs8,000, has registered an increase of 0.68 per cent over the previous week.
The SPI for the week under review in the above mentioned group was recorded at 168.41 points as against 167.27 points registered in the previous week, according to provisional figures of Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS).
The weekly SPI has been computed with base 2007-2008=100 covering 17 urban centers and 53 essential items for all income groups and combined.
SPI for the combined group registered positive growth of 0.70 per cent as it went up from 174.60 points in the previous week to 175.83 points in the week under review.
As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined group in the week under review witnessed increase of 5.48 per cent.
As compared to the last week, the SPI for the income groups ranging from Rs8001-12000, Rs12001-18000 and above Rs35,000 increased by 0.71 per cent, 0.73 per cent and 0.0.68 per cent, respectively.
During the week under review, average prices of 9 items registered decrease, while that of 15 items increased with the remaining 29 items’ prices unchanged.
The items which recorded decrease in their average prices during the week under review included potatoes, masoor (washed), garlic, moong (washed), gram (washed), rice basmati (broken), mash (washed), red chillies and wheat.
The items which registered increase in their prices included chicken live (farm), onions, tomatoes, sugar, egg hen (farm), bananas, LPG (11kg cylinder), firewood, mutton, beef, washing soap (200-250 gm), mustard oil, gur, rice-IRRI-6 and vegetable ghee (lose).
The items with no change in their average prices during the week under review included wheat flour bag, bread plain (middle size) milk fresh, curd, milk powdered, cooking oil (tin), vegetable ghee (tin), salt powdered, tea, cooked dal plate, cooked beef plate, tea prepared, cigarettes, long cloth, shirting, lawn, georgette, sandal gents, chappal gents, sandal ladies, electric charges, gas charges (up to 100 mmbtu), kerosene, energy saver (14 watts), match box, petrol, diesel, telephone local call and bath soap. —APP