The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) surged by 15.8 percent over the corresponding period of last year on the basis of increase in the prices of 17 essential commodities. The Federal Bureau of Statistics report released for the week ending on August 11, 2011, showed a 1.9 percent increase over the previous week.
Inflation was recorded 14.16 percent higher (compared to same week of last year) for Rs 3000 monthly income group, followed by 13.83 percent for people bracketed in Rs 3001 to Rs 5000 monthly earning. The inflation soared by 19.77 percent for people earning Rs 5001 Rs 12,000 monthly and 21.22 percent for above Rs 12,000 monthly earners.
Weekly inflation, computed on the basis of 53 essential items, collected from 17 urban centres, showed increase in the prices of 17 items, and decrease in prices of 13 essential commodities, whereas prices of 23 items remained unchanged.
Analysis of data showed that the price of LPG (11 kg cylinder) increased from Rs 1357 on August 4 to Rs 1405 on August 11, banana from Rs 61 to Rs 62, shirting from Rs 101 per metre to Rs 103, coarse latha from Rs 73 per metre to Rs 74, sugar from Rs 72 per kg to 73, washing soap from Rs 17.35 to Rs 17.53, salt from Rs 7.7 to Rs 7.8 per kg, milk from Rs 55 per litre to Rs 56, curd from 65.65 per kg to Rs 65.9, firewood from Rs 399 per 40 kg to Rs 401, rice Irri-6 from Rs 44 per kg to Rs 44.2, mutton from Rs 456 per kg to Rs 457, gur from Rs 87.1 per kg to Rs 87.3, beef from Rs 238 per kg to Rs 239, mustard oil from Rs 170.1 per kg to Rs 170.4 and mash pulse washed price increased from Rs 153.1 to Rs 153.3.
According to FBS, the price of tomatoes per kg decreased from Rs 39 on August 4 to Rs 33 on August 11, potatoes from Rs 32 to Rs 29 per kg, chicken from Rs 172 per kg to Rs 162, egg hen (farm) from Rs 81 to Rs 79 per dozen, onions from Rs 22.6 per kg to Rs 22, garlic from Rs 139 per kg to Rs 137, masoor pulse washed from Rs 106.7 per kg to Rs 106.1, elec bulb 60 watts from Rs 24.5 to Rs 24.4, gram from Rs 73.2 to Rs 73, moong from Rs 140 per kg to Rs 139, veg. ghee from Rs 166.8 to Rs 166.4, red chillies from Rs 252.5 per kg to Rs 252, and price of wheat flour decreased from Rs 28.6 per kg to Rs 28.5.