960414

Essentials' prices

on increase

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The prices of food items and beverages registered over two percent increase in March over February.

A rise of 2 percent in prices of essential commodities in one month is rare, if not a record. The increase has taken place despite the government's concerted efforts to control prices of kitchen items, for which a special committee headed by the Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission was appointed by the Cabinet recently.

The monthly review of prices for March issued by the Federal Bureau of Statistics showed an increase in a broad range of food items and beverages, perhaps excluding none.

The prices of apparel and textile group rose by 0.61 percent, household goods and furniture by 0.66 percent, transport and communication group by 0.83 percent, medicine group by 1.27 percent and education group by 0.70 percent.

The overall growth in the consumer price index was 1.35 percent in one month.

It may be mentioned that FBS figures give a very conservative estimate.

The press release says: according to the price data compiled by the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS), Consumer Price Index (CPI) for March, 1996 with 1990-91 as base stood at 172.90 which showed an increase of 1.35 percent over the Index of February, 1996 when it was 170.60.

All the groups indicies of the CPI have shown an increasing trend except fuel & lightning.

The food, beverages & tobacco group index showed an increase of 2.06 percent over the previous month mainly due to increase in the prices of chillies green, tomatoes, cucumber, mosambi, reddish, cauliflower, malta, kinnu, chicken farm, sugar refined, cold drink, potatoes, beef, corriander powder, squash, bananas, gur, chillies powder, fruit juice, tea prepared, ice cream, mutton, apple, jelly, pickles, cooked beef, Naurus, powder milk, Rooh Afza, rice basmati, cooked mutton, rice basmati and sweet meat.

The apparel, textile & footwear group showed an increase of 0.61 percent over the previous month mainly due to increase in the prices of boot polish, shirt (boy), full pant (boy), brassier, georgette, tropical suiting Lawrencepur, linen, awami suit, long cloth, school uniform, frock girl, chintz and tailoring charges.

The household, furniture and equipment, etc. group index showed an increase of 0.66 percent over the previous month mainly due to increase in the prices of washing machine, refrigerator, D-freezer, airconditioner (1.5 ton), matress, bed sheet, iron, ceiling fan, cooking pan and deghchi stainless steel.

The transport & communication group index showed a rise of 0.83 percent over the previous month mainly due to increase in the prices of diesel, bus fare, Suzuki fare, mini-bus and motorcycle.

The recreation, entertainment & education group index showed a rise of 0.70 percent over the previous month mainly due to increase in the prices of weekly Akhbar-e-Jahan, ball pen, pencil and paper (fulscape).

The cleaning, laundry and personal appearance group index showed an increase of 0.70 percent over the previous month mainly due to rise in the prices of talcum powder, lipstick, face cream, comb, nail polish, Treet blade ordinary, dry cleaning pant woollen, tooth paste, robin blue, shaving cream and washing soap nylon.

The medicines group index showed an increase of 1.27 percent over the previous month mainly due to rise in the prices of Serbex-T tablets, Benzyle Pencillin injection, Glaxos-D, thermometer, Polyfax eye ointment, Paracetamol tablets, Erythomycin tablets and Brufen tablets.

The index of fuel & lightning however, recorded a nominal decrease of 0.07 percent over the previous month.

The consumer price index for March, 1996 as compared to March, 1995 showed an increase of 10.27 percent. Food, beverages & tobacco group recorded an increase of 8.83 percent; apparel, textile & footwear 10.88 percent house rent 9.15 percent; fuel & lightning 13.53 percent; household, furniture and equipment etc. 13.30 percent; transport & communication 13.40 percent; recreation, entertainment & education 16.90 percent, cleaning, laundry & personal appearance 16.38 percent and medicine group 10.59 percent over the corresponding month of last year.

The consumer price index for July/March, 1996 i.e. nine months average when compared with the corresponding period of last year showed an increase of 10.82 percent.