Driven by tomato, potato prices, weekly inflation up by 0.94pc

ISLAMABAD: Prices of basmati rice and dal masoor recorded a weekly decline, while onions, tomatoes, and potatoes saw an increase in the last one week.

According to the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics based on the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), the price of essential commodities rose by 0.94 per cent on on a weekly basis and a 23.78 per cent on an annual basis.

The data, covering the week ending June 20, highlighted that prices of five essential items fell, while 21 items remained stable.

In contrast, 25 commodities experienced slight price hikes. Notably, petrol prices decreased by 3.76 per cent, diesel by 0.84 per cent, basmati rice by 0.08 per cent, dal masoor by 0.08 per cent, and chicken by 0.05 per cent.

Also read: Weekly inflation surges due to increase in chicken, tomato prices

Conversely, tomato prices surged by 65.84 per cent, potatoes by 5.61 per cent, onions by 3.78 per cent, bananas by 3.29 per cent, LPG by 2.44 per cent, cigarettes by 1.67 per cent, lentils by 1.53 per cent, garlic by 1.29 per cent, fresh milk by 0.95 per cent, and eggs by 0.83 per cent.

Minor increases were also noted in georgette fabric (0.28  per cent) and shirting material (0.17 per cent).

The SPI increase was most significant for the lowest income group, earning up to Rs17,732 monthly, which saw a 1.58 per cent rise.

The income group earning above Rs44,175 montly, experienced a 0.69 per cent increase.

The Consumer Price Sensitive Index tracks price fluctuations of 51 essential commodities across 50 markets in 17 major cities countrywide.