950816

Inflationary

trend keeps

mounting

RECORDER REPORT

KARACHI: The inflationary pressure mounted as the prices of essential commodities increased in most parts of the country for the second week running.

The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ending August 7, 1995, reflected an increase of 0.24 percent over the SPI for the preceding week.

Out of 46 essential commodities constituting the SPI basket, prices of five items showed decrease and that of 22 items prices increased. The prices of remaining 19 items were held stable at the last levels.

The biggest decrease of 4.4 percent was recorded in the prices of voil (printed) followed by lawn whose prices showed a decline of 2.6 percent.

The highest increase of 10.4 percent was noted in the prices of tomatoes as its prices shot up from Rs 16.96 to Rs 18.72 followed by onions whose prices showed a rise of 3.2 percent. The prices of sugar, masoor pulse and gur showed a nominal increase of 2.2, 1.5 and 1.5 percent respectively.

On annualised basis (on August 07, 1995 over August 09, 1994), the SPI showed an increase of 15.25 percent as against 13.08 percent in the previous period (on August 07, 1994 over August 12, 1993).

The Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) compiles SPI every week with 1980-81 as base in respect of 46 essential commodities mostly consumed by industrial, commercial and governmental employees earning up to Rs 1000.00 per month.

The increase in the SPI index by occupational groups is given below.

Figures stand for the week ended August 07, 1995, previous week ended July 31, 1995, and the corresponding week of last year's figure.

Industrial. 355.30, 354.22, 306.66

Commercial. 347.67, 346.44, 297.62

Government. 360.49, 359.81, 314.14

All categories. 357.88, 357.03, 310.53

The increase in the SPI index by percentage term was (+) 0.30 percent, (+) 0.36 percent, (+) 0.19 percent and (+) 0.24 percent in that order.