ISLAMABAD: Short-term inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), rose 28.54 per cent on an annual basis in the week ending April 18, official data showed on Friday.

It was the lowest year-on-year increase after Sep 14, 2023.

However, it witnessed a 0.79pc week-on-week decl­i­ne despite a spike in petroleum prices.

The weekly inflation hit a record 48.35pc year-on-year in early May 2023, but then decelerated as low as 24.4pc in late Aug 2023 before surging past 40pc during the week ending on Nov 16, 2023.

The items whose prices increased week-on-week incl­uded potatoes (17.­07pc), tomatoes (12.67pc), chicken (11.60pc), lawn printed and shirting (3.55pc) each, garlic (2.88pc), diesel (2.87pc), beef (2.56pc), georgette (1.91pc), pulse mash (1.62pc), cooked beef (1.31pc) and sugar (1.10pc).

The items whose prices decreased the most over the previous week incl­uded wheat flour (8.97pc), bananas (8.67pc), electricity charges for Q1 (7.16pc), eggs (6.67pc), LPG (2.84pc), onion (1.40pc), chillies powder (1.31pc), cooking oil 5 litre (0.45pc), pulse masoor (0.43pc) and vegetable ghee 2.5 Kg (0.34pc).

However, on an annual basis, following items depict a rise included gas charges for Q1 (570pc), onions (155pc), tomatoes (126.94pc), chilies powder (83.62pc), gents sandal (66.71pc), garlic (65.96pc), gents sponge chappal (58.05pc), salt powder (31.87pc), chicken (30.91pc), energy saver (29.83pc), gur (27.99pc) and pulse mash (26.39pc).

In contrast, the prices of bananas dropped 35.20pc, cooking oil 5-litre (20.91pc), vegetable ghee 2.5kg (17.65pc), vegetable ghee 1 Kg (17.61pc), mustard oil (13.83pc), wheat flour (11.05pc), LPG (6.14pc), eggs (4.51pc) and diesel (0.85pc).

Published in Dawn, April 20th, 2024

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...