By Irfan Ahmed ISLAMABAD, June 08, (INP-Wealth): The sensitive price indicator (SPI) based on inflation for the week ending June 2 witnessed an increase of 20.04% for the combined consumption group compared to the corresponding week of last year in Pakistan, reports INP-WealthPK. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), on a year-on-year (YoY) basis, the price of onions increased by 177.62%, tomatoes by 152.57%, mustard oil by 70.50%, vegetable ghee by 68.02%, garlic by 67.44%, pulse masoor by 66.92% and the rate of a five-litre container increased by 64.72%. The prices of non-food items also witnessed an increase including liquified petroleum gas (LPG) by 60.14%, petrol by 64.78%, diesel by 56.45% and washing soap by 42.92%. On the other hand, the price of powdered chilli decreased by 43.42%, pulse moong by 21.62%, gur (raw sugar) by 1.46%, sugar by11.16%, banana by 9.95%, potatoes by 6.89% and electricity tariff decreased by 11.71%. According to the PBS, the combined index was at 178.12 points on June 2, compared to 174.62 points on May 26, while the index was recorded at 148.38 points on June 3 of last year. During the week, the prices of 28 (54.90%) items increased. The prices of five (9.81%) items decreased and 18 (35.29%) items remained stable. The potato was one of the key commodities that increased the weekly inflation, with a hike of 9.08% in its rate on a week-on-week (WoW) basis. Compared to the previous week, the SPI for the combined consumption group in the week under review witnessed an increase of 2%. Food commodities that saw an increase in prices included eggs by 6.38%, vegetable ghee by 4.59%, bread by 2.72%, mustard oil by 2.65%, pulse masoor by 2.33%, cooking oil per five litres by 2.18%, pulse gram by 1.99%, sugar by 1.93%, cooked beef and pulse Mash by 1.69% each and banana by1.35%. Among the non-food items, the price of diesel increased by 20.69%, petrol by 19.91% and toilet soap by 1.40%. On the other hand, the rate of chicken decreased by 4.68%, garlic by 2.75%, wheat flour by 1.91%, tomatoes by1.26% and LPG by 0.74%. Alternatively, the prices of 18 items remained stable including gur, powdered salt, tea, cloths, chappal, ladies sandal, electricity charges, gas tariff, matchbox, firewood and telephone call charges. The SPI for the lowest consumption group up to Rs17,732 observed an increase of 1.02% and went up to 185.86 points this week from 183.98 points last week. On a yearly basis, analysis of SPI change across different income segments showed an increase across all quintiles ranging between 16.67% and 20.68%. Yearly inflation for the group with a monthly income from Rs29,518 to Rs44,175 (Q4) increased by 20.10%, while the highest income group with a monthly income above Rs44,175 recorded an increase of 21.68%. Similarly, weekly inflation for the group with a monthly income from Rs22,889 to 29,517 (Q3), increased by 1.41%. There is a mild difference between the prices of items at utility stores and the open market. The Utility Stores Corporation is giving a special subsidy to consumers on pulses, flour, sugar, rice and ghee under the government’s relief package, according to WealthPK.  [caption id="attachment_68083" align="aligncenter" width="696"] Source: Pakistan Bureau of Statistics[/caption]