Inflation index: Sensitive Price Indicator increases 16%

In the past week, the average prices of seven items fell while those of 18 items rose and 28 items were unchanged.

ISLAMABAD:

The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ended on July 14 for the combined income group recorded an increase of 16.13 per cent compared to the same week last year.

However, the index for the same group edged up 0.02 per cent to 296.78 points compared to 296.71 points in the previous week, show figures released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics.

SPI for the lowest income group up to Rs3,000 registered an increase of 0.03 per cent and stood at 309.43 points against 309.35 points in the previous week. The weekly index covers 17 urban centres and 53 essential items for all income groups.

Compared to the previous week, SPI for income groups Rs3,001-5,000, Rs5,001-12,000 and above Rs12,000 rose by 0.02 per cent, 0.03 per cent and 0.02 per cent respectively.

During the week under review, average prices of seven items fell while those of 18 items rose and prices of the remaining 28 items stood unchanged.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 17^th, 2011.