The weekly inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the combined consumption group, increased by 0.95 per cent on a week-on-week basis, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Friday.
However, the annual inflation rate was recorded at -1.23%, suggesting a decrease on a year-on-year basis.
During the week, the prices of 19 essential items increased, while only six items saw a decline in prices.
Among the most notable increases, the price of chicken per kilogram rose by Rs78.32, taking it from Rs346.34 to Rs424.66.
Tomatoes became costlier by Rs 10.56 per kg, while onions saw a price hike of Rs 3.34 per kg. The price of garlic increased by Rs8.44 per kg.
Sugar also became more expensive, with an increase of Rs3.52 per kg, taking the average price from Rs184 to Rs188.44.
Other items that saw a price rise include jaggery (gur), eggs, fresh milk, yoghurt, black gram (daal maash), and bananas.
In contrast, the domestic LPG cylinder price dropped by Rs 82.98 during the week. The price of mung beans (daal moong) fell by Rs1.65 per kg. Wheat flour, Dalda ghee, and cooking oil were also among the items that became cheaper.
Meanwhile, the prices of 26 essential commodities, including bread, beef, mutton, salt, and tea leaves, remained stable throughout the week.
As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined consumption group in the week under review witnessed a decrease of 1.23 per cent.
The weekly SPI with the base year 2015-16 =100 covers 17 urban centres and 51 essential items for all expenditure groups.
The SPI for the lowest consumption group of up to Rs 17,732 witnessed an increase of 1.06 per cent and went up to 304.79 points this week from last week’s 301.60 points.
The SPI for consumption groups of Rs 17,732 to 22,888, Rs 22,889-29,517, Rs 29,518-44,175, and above Rs 44,175 increased by 1.10 per cent, 0.99 percent,1.02 percent, and 0.88 per cent, respectively.
During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 19 (37.25%) items increased, 06 (11.77%) items decreased, and 26 (50.98%) items remained stable.
The items, which recorded major decreases in their average prices on a week-on-week basis included LPG (2.56%), mustard oil (0.81%), pulse moong (0.41%), cooking oil 5 litre (0.20%), and wheat flour & vegetable ghee 2.5 kg (0.02%) each.
The commodities which recorded major increase in their average prices on a week-on-week basis included chicken (22.61%), tomatoes (13.45%), onions (6.25%), potatoes (2.79%), garlic (2.36%), sugar (1.90%), gur (1.89%) and rice basmati broken (0.84%).
