SPI-based inflation up 0.65pc WoW

Business Recorder reported that Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI)-based inflation rose 0.65 percent week on week for the week ended September 3. Onions led the increase with a 26.30 percent jump, while tomatoes rose 2.55 percent, potatoes 0.96 percent and petrol 0.90 percent.

Wheat flour, chicken, pulse mash and diesel also became more expensive, while bananas fell 2.54 percent and LPG slipped 0.45 percent. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics released the weekly data on Friday. Of the 51 items tracked, 17 rose in price and made up 33.33 percent of the SPI basket, seven fell, and 27 remained stable.

Compared with a year earlier, the SPI rose 8.35 percent, led by onions at 162.75 percent, LPG at 53.61 percent and diesel at 37.70 percent. The combined SPI rose 0.65 percent week on week, moving from 361.07 points to 363.42 points. Households earning up to Rs17,732 a month saw a 0.91 percent weekly rise. Potatoes, chicken and sugar were 31.61, 23.50 and 19.38 percent cheaper respectively than a year before.