ISLAMABAD, July 12: Prices of 32 essential kitchen items witnessed an average increase of five per cent during the week ending on July 11 over previous week, the Statistics Division said on Saturday.

The prices of vegetables, like tomatoes, onions, etc., are on the rise for the last two consecutive weeks on the back of drop in supply to markets.

However, a steady price spiral was also witnessed in the prices of non-perishable products.

The new fiscal year started with high food and energy prices, making it difficult for the low-income group to cope with it.

The impact of a 20 per cent increase in salaries has already been minimised due this unexpected increase.

The increase in the prices stood at 32.12 per cent and 31.31 per cent for households in income brackets of up to Rs3,000 and Rs3,001 to Rs5,000, respectively.

For households in the income brackets of Rs5,001 to 12,000, the increase in the prices was in the range of 29.17 per cent, and for households in the income basket of over Rs12,000, the inflation registered a growth of 26.71 per cent over the week last year.

The prices of tomato rose by 23.43 per cent to Rs22.07 per kg, onions by 11.34 per cent to Rs16.99 per kg, sugar by 6.18 per cent to Rs31.79 per kg and egg by 2.82 per cent to Rs53.93 during the week under review.

Kerosene price went up by 2.19 per cent to Rs62.87 per litre, gur by 2.11 per cent to Rs32.84, garlic by 2.09 per cent to Rs35.58, masoor pulse washed by 1.97 per cent to Rs114.85 per kg, wheat 1.51 per cent to Rs20.78 per kg, LPG 11 kg cylinder by 1.12 per cent to Rs755 each and washing soap nylon by 1.05 per cent to Rs11.50 per cake.

Rice Basmati broken witnessed an increase in the price by 1.01 per cent to Rs54.03 per kg, bread plain mid-size by 0.87 per cent to Rs21.97, tea (prepared) by 0.80 per cent to Rs7.59 per cup, gram pulse (washed) by 0.75 per cent to Rs60.56 per kg, firewood by 0.73 per cent to Rs243.45 per 40kg and mutton by 0.72 per cent to Rs248.16 per kg and rice-Irri-6 by 0.71 per cent to Rs48.46 per kg.

The price of moong (washed) rose by 0.71 per cent to Rs55.13 per kg, mustard oil by 0.71 per cent to Rs146.69 per kg, vegetable ghee loose by 0.69 per cent to Rs134.97 per kg and voil printed by 0.65 per cent to Rs45.11 per metre. The rate of wheat flour rose by 0.59 per cent to Rs23.90 per kg, cooked dal plate 0.59 per cent to Rs23.70.

Curd price rose by 0.50 per cent to Rs40.40 per kg, beef 0.37 per cent to Rs132.17 per kg, mash (washed) by 0.11 per cent to Rs73.03 per kg, milk (fresh) by 0.06 per cent to Rs34.43 per kg, and bananas by 0.04 per cent to Rs48.68 per dozen.