ISLAMABAD (January 24 2010): The SPI inflation surged by 18.13 percent on week ended on January 21 over the same period of last year on the back of substantial increase in prices of kitchen items. The official figures released by Federal Bureau of Statistics on weekly SPI inflation here on Saturday showed that inflation during the week went up by 0.10 percent over previous week.

The inflation for low income group, bracketed in Rs 3,000, was noted 18.58 percent during the period under review while of those of Rs 3001 to Rs 5000 and Rs 5001 to Rs 12,000 was recorded 18.69 percent and 18.66 percent respectively The dearness for above Rs 12,000 income groups was noted 18.01 percent for the period.

The SPI of 53 essential commodities collected from 17 urban cities showed increase in the prices of 19 items, decline in 6 items while the prices of 29 items remained stable but were relatively higher as compared to the same period of last year. Average prices of following 19 important household items registered increase.

Price of gram pulse washed per kg increased from Rs 52.38 to Rs 54.86, moong pulse washed per kg from Rs 77.63 to 80.50, mash pulse washed per kg from Rs 129.76 to Rs 132.46, sugar per kg from Rs 64.79 to Rs 66.11, gur per kg from Rs 70.09 to Rs 71.38, mutton per kg from Rs 305.19 to Rs 309.83, beef per kg from Rs 171.72 to Rs 174.04, prepared tea cup from Rs 10.41 to Rs 10.53, wheat per kg from Rs 26.44 to Rs 26.74, garlic per kg from Rs 146.39 to Rs 147.92, LPG per 11 kg cylinder from Rs 1084.92 to Rs 1096.29, rice Irri-6 per kg from Rs 33.87 to Rs 34.18, bananas per dozen from Rs 37.55 to Rs 37.85, rice Basmati broken per kg from Rs 42.70 to Rs 43.03, wheat flour per kg from Rs 29.98 to Rs 30.18, mustard oil per kg from Rs 135.05 to Rs 135.95 and coarse latha per metre from Rs 45.79 to Rs 46.09, masoor pulse washed per kg from Rs 121.62 to Rs 122.16, and firewood per 40 kg from Rs 301.52 to Rs 302.84 0.4529.

During the period, average prices of the following 6 items decreased: farm hen eggs per dozen from Rs 101.37 to Rs 85.77, per kg tomatoes from Rs 17.70 to Rs 16.67, per kg potatoes from Rs 18.54 to Rs 18.07, farm chicken per kg from Rs 118.98 to Rs 117.71, per kg onions from Rs 25.39 to Rs 25.14 and per kg open vegetable ghee from Rs 116.93 to Rs 116.77.

Average prices of the following 28 items remained unchanged: bread plain medium size, fresh milk per litre, powder milk, curd per kg, vegetable ghee per 2.5 kg tin, cooking oil per 2.5 litres tin, powder salt, red chilies, tea packet 250 gm, cooked beef plate, cooked dal plate, cigarettes K-2 10's, lawn metre, voil printed metre, shirting metre, gents Bata sandal, ladies Bata sandal, Bata chappal sponge per pair, kerosene oil per litte, 60 watts bulb, match box, washing soap nylon cake and bath soap Lifebouy cake.

Copyright Business Recorder, 2010