- SPI displays a weekly drop of 0.69%, an annual drop of 2.72%.
- The tomatoes, the chicken, the onions lead a drop in the weekly price in the essential elements.
- Onion, tomato, record wheat flour in net annual price drops.
Pakistan recorded a 2.72% decrease in annual shift in its weekly sensitive prices index (SPI) or the week ending on April 17, the strongest fall since the deflationary trend that started in March, The news Reported Saturday citing official figures published Friday.
Continuous decrease indicates low demand and persistent price pressures in the key categories of consumers, according to Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. The SPI, which measures the cost of essential products in 17 cities, also showed negative growth of 0.69% compared to the previous week. Of the 51 articles supervised, the prices of 16 increased, 18 decreased and 17 remained unchanged.
During one week, tomatoes prices decreased by 22.77%, chicken 11%, 9.8%onions, garlic 8.8%, wheat flour 2.37%, potatoes 2.18%, 0.95%mustard oil, 0.89%GPL and 0.68%plant GHEE and the price of reduced sugar by 0.29%.
However, some items have shown a slight increase in prices. This includes the shirt, which has become more expensive by 3.7%, the lawn printed 1.5%, the lawn fabric and the Georgette of 1.33%each. In addition, the price of the Gram pulse increased by 1.03%, 0.66% beef and the price of sheep increased by 0.5% compared to the previous week.
Likewise, on an annual basis, several essential items have experienced significant price increases in the past year. The ladies’ sandals jumped 56%, the 27%moong pulse, powdered milk 25%, the gram gram of 21%, beef 19%. Likewise, the prices of sugar increased by 17%, vegetable ghee 15.7%, firewood by 10.5% and the lawn and printed lawn increased by 10.3% more than a year ago.
Some products have experienced notable discounts in the past year. Onion prices dropped by 73.6%, tomatoes of 52.7%and 30%wheat flour. The price of the garlic reduced by 29%, the potatoes 21% and the chili powder was 19% cheaper in the past year.
Lipton tea was cheaper by 17%, chicken 15%, gasoline 13%and electricity charges for the lowest consumption slab decreased by 12.7%. The price of diesel also decreased by 10.85% compared to the year.