ISLAMABAD, March 29: The weekly inflation, measured through the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), increased by 17.35 per cent during the week ended on March 28, over the corresponding period last year, according to data released by the Statistics Division here on Saturday.

The SPI is on the rise for the last four consecutive weeks on the back of rising domestic oil and electricity prices.

It has hiked to over 17 per cent from 12 per cent, hitting mostly the people from the low-income group as compared to the rich.

The SPI witnessed an increase of 19.12pc and 18.54pc, respectively, for households in the two lower income brackets of up to Rs3,000 and Rs3,001 to Rs5,000.

For households in the income brackets of Rs5,001 to 12,000, the increase in the SPI was in the range of 17.84pc, while for households in the income basket of over Rs12,000, the inflation registered a growth of 16.09 per cent over the week last year.

As compared to the previous week, the SPI registered an increase of 0.64 per cent for almost all income groups.

Prices of 22 items went up as compared to the previous week.

Prices of egg increased by 12.72pc to Rs42.89 per dozen as against Rs38.05 while an increase of 8.66pc was witnessed in chicken which stood at Rs103.81 per kg during the week under review as against Rs95.54, tomatoes increased by 7.26pc to Rs43.16 per kg from Rs40.24, and of red chillies by 4.12 per cent to Rs159.72 per kg as against Rs153.40.

The vegetable ghee tin prices increased by 2.67pc to Rs373 per 2.5 kg as against Rs363.29; lawn increased by 2.43pc to Rs85.94 per metre from Rs83.90; cooking oil tin 2.20 per cent to Rs383 per 2.5 litres from Rs374.76 and onion 1.64 per cent to Rs11.17 per kg as against Rs10.99.

Rice irri-6 prices increased by 1.07pc to Rs28.40 per kg as against Rs28.10, beef price increased by 0.91pc to Rs124.37 per kg as against Rs123.25.

The washing soap price increased by 0.75pc to Rs10.76 per cake as against Rs10.68, voil printed witnessed an increase of 0.71pc to Rs41.18 per metre against Rs40.89, masoor pulse washed increased by 0.68pc to Rs81.46 per kg as against Rs8.91. Prices of curd went up by 0.54pc to Rs36.97 per kg as against Rs36.77, mutton was up 0.53pc to Rs240.63 per kg as against Rs239.36 and bananas 0.52pc to Rs34.57 per dozen against Rs34.39.

Fresh milk prices increased by 0.38pc to Rs31.46 per kg as against Rs31.34, coarse latha witnessed an increase of by 0.38pc to Rs40.05 per metre as against Rs39.90 and kerosene went up by 0.37pc to Rs48.56 per litre as against Rs48.38.

Prices of broken basmati increased by 0.31 per cent to Rs38.81 per kg as against Rs38.69, mash pulse by 0.17pc to Rs72.29 per kg against Rs72.17 and mustard oil went up by 0.15pc to Rs140.56 against Rs140.35.