Islamabad, Pakistan (BBN) – The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ending on March 27 for the lowest income group up to Rs.8 000 registered an increase of 0.19 percent as compared to the previous week.
 

The SPI for the week under review in the above mentioned group was recorded at 204.72 points against 203.34 points registered in the previous week according to data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
 

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. The SPI for the combined group also increased by 0.08 per cent as it went up from 211.62 points in the previous week to 212.78 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 10.30 percent.
As compared to the last week the SPI for the income groups from Rs.8001 12 000 Rs.12 001 18 000 Rs.18001 35 000 and above Rs.35 000 increased by 0.14 percent 0.11 percent 0.07 percent and 0.02 percent respectively, the data showed.
 

During the week under review average prices of 12 items registered decrease while that of 08 items increase with the remaining 33 items prices unchanged. The items which registered decrease in their prices during the week under review included egg, hen, onion, chicken live (farm), wheat, flour wheat, sugar, L.P.G. (11kg cylinder) mash pluse (washed), gram pluses washed, masoor pluses (washed), tomatoes and vegetable ghee (loose).
 

The items which recorded increase in their average prices included potatoes, gur, tea, prepared moong plus (washed), red chilles powder, garlic, mutton and bananas.
 

The items with no change in their average prices during the week under review included rice basmati (broken) Rice, (IRRI 6), bread, plain beef, milk fresh, curd milk (powder), mustard oil, vegetable ghee (tin), cooking oil (tin), salt powder, tea, cooked beef plate, cooked dal (plate), cigarettes, long cloth, shirting, lawn, georgette, sandal gents, chapal, spang sandal ladies, electric charges, gas charges, kerosene oil, fire wood, energy savor, washing soap, match box, petrol, diesel, telephone local calls and bath soap.
 

BBN/SSR/AD-28Mar14-9:05 pm (BST)