ISLAMABAD, Feb 29: The weekly inflation, measured through the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), increased by 12.16 per cent during the week ended on Feb 28, over the corresponding period last year, according to the weekly price data released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) here on Friday.

The double-digit increase in SPI has been recorded on the back of increase in the price of 24 daily kitchen items during the week under review. The impact of the increase in SPI was hard-hitting for the lower income group as compared to the rich people.

The SPI witnessed an increase of 15.26 per cent and 14.73 per cent, respectively, for households in the two lower income brackets of up to Rs3,000 and Rs3,001-5,000.

For households in income brackets of Rs5,001-12,000, the increase in the SPI was in the range of 13.29 per cent while for households in the income group basket of over Rs12,000, the inflation registered a growth 10.08 per cent over the week last year. As compared to the previous week, the SPI, however, registered an increase of 0.35 per cent for almost all income groups.

Prices of 24 items went up as compared to the previous week.

The prices of loose vegetable ghee increased by 4.50 per cent to Rs123.03 per kg against Rs117.73; an increase of 4.22 per cent in cooking oil tin, which stood at Rs323.28 per 2.5 kg during the week under review as against Rs319.41.

The price of vegetable ghee tin increased by 3.73 per cent to Rs326.76 per 2.5 kg from Rs315.02, moong pulse washed 2.90 per cent to Rs53.62 per kg against Rs52.11, 2.55 per cent in bath soap to Rs18.88 per cake against Rs18.41, bananas 2.36 per cent to Rs33.81 per dozen from Rs33.03; masoor pulse washed 2.20 per cent to Rs78 per kg as against Rs76.32, mustard oil 2.20 per cent to Rs135.52 per kg as against Rs132.60, curd 1.70 per cent to Rs35.37 per kg against Rs34.78.

The milk fresh price increased by 1.58 per cent to Rs30.26 per kg against Rs29.79, rice basmati broken 1.39 per cent to Rs37.25 per kg against Rs36.74, wheat flour 1.34 per cent to Rs16.63 per kg as against Rs16.41, mutton by 1 per cent to Rs238.70 per kg as against Rs236.34, bread plain mid size 0.93per cent to Rs19.56 each against Rs19.38, washing soap 0.88 per cent to Rs10.35 per cake as against Rs10.26, tea prepared 0.85 per cent to Rs7.12 per cup against Rs7.06, kerosene 0.81 per cent to Rs42.43 per litre as against Rs42.09, gram pulse washed 0.73 per cent to Rs42.61 per kg against Rs42.39, and 0.63 per cent to Rs27.01 per kg against Rs26.84.

The price of wheat 0.52 per cent to Rs17.31 per kg against Rs17.22, red chillies 35.79 per cent to Rs137.67 per kg against Rs137.32, garlic 0.17 per cent to Rs42.46 per kg against Rs42.43, mash pulse washed 0.11 per cent to Rs71.31 against Rs71.23 and firewood 0.08 per cent to Rs232.40 per 40 kg against Rs232.21.