Weekly SPI inflation rises 0.57pc

Sensitive Price Index based inflation rose 0.57 percent in the week ended October 8, according to Business Recorder, which cited data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Friday. The increase was driven mainly by higher prices of wheat flour, up 5.69 percent, chicken, which rose 4.93 percent, and gram pulse, up 3.99 percent.

Petrol and tomatoes each climbed 2.40 percent, while masoor pulse, prepared tea and LPG also became dearer. Among items that declined, bananas fell 2.81 percent, diesel slipped 1.37 percent and potatoes eased 0.89 percent. Of the 51 items tracked, 20 recorded increases and 6 recorded reductions, while 25 remained stable.

On a YoY basis, the index was up 11.97 percent, led by onions at 100.24 percent and LPG at 68.55 percent. Households earning up to Rs17,732 a month saw their index rise from 354.73 to 356.56 points, while the combined SPI moved from 370.40 to 372.58 points.