ISLAMABAD: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ended on August 22 for the lowest income group up to Rs.8,000 registered decrease of 0.13 per cent as compared to the previous week.

The SPI for the week under review in the above mentioned group was recorded at 199.62 points against 199.87 points registered in the previous week, according to data of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The weekly SPI has been computed with base 2007-2008=100, covering 17 urban centers and 53 essential items for all income groups and combined.

The SPI for the combined group decreased by 0.26 per cent as it went down from 204.83 points in the previous week to 204.29 points in the week under review.

As compared to the corresponding week of last year, the SPI for the combined group in the week under review witnessed increase of 8.38 percent.

As compared to the last week, the SPI for the income groups from Rs.8001- 12,000, 12,001-18,000, 18001-35,000 and above Rs.35,000 decreased by 1.19 percent, 0.24 percent, 0.29 and 0.31 percent respectively.

During the week under review average prices of 9 items registered decrease, while that of 24 items increase with the remaining 20 items' prices unchanged.

The items which registered decrease in their prices during the week under review included onions, bananas, tomatoes, chicken live (farm) potatoes, garlic, moong pulse (washed), lawn and vegetable ghee.

The items which recorded increase in their average prices included egg (hen) cooked beef, match box, cooked dal, tea (prepared), wheat, wheat flour (bag), masoor pulse (washed), bread (plain), gur, washing soap, red chiles (powder), mustard oil, vegetable ghee (tin), sugar, rice (basmati broken), energy savor, mash pulse, mutton, LPG, georgette, bath soap and rice (irri-6).

The items with no change in their average prices during the week under review included beef, milk (fresh), curd, milk (Powdered), cooking oil, salt (powdered), tea( Packet), cigarettes, long cloth, shirting, sandal (gents), chappal, sandal (ladies), electric charges, gas charges, kerosene oil, firewood, petrol, diesel and telephone local call.