Global Rice News

Weekly Inflation in Pakistan Sees Decrease: SPI Report

ISLAMABAD: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Friday revealed a decrease of 1.13 percent in the weekly inflation for all consumption groups during the week ending on March 21.

The SPI for this period was recorded at 323.50 points, compared to 327.21 points the previous week. However, when compared to the same week last year, the SPI showed a significant increase of 29.06% for all consumption groups. The weekly SPI, which is based on a 2015-16 base year of 100, covers 17 urban centers and includes fifty-one essential items across all expenditure groups.

For the lowest consumption group, with an income of up to Rs. 17,732, the SPI decreased by 1.83% to 314.20 points from the previous week’s 320.06 points. Similarly, the SPI for consumption groups ranging from Rs. 17,732-22,888; Rs. 22,889-29,517; Rs. 29,518-44,175; and above Rs. 44,175 decreased by 1.64%, 1.34%, 1.25%, and 0.91% respectively.

Out of the fifty-one items tracked, prices of nine items (17.65%) increased, seventeen items (33.33%) decreased, and twenty-five items (49.02%) remained stable during the week. The items that experienced a decrease in average prices included tomatoes (36.73%), onions (19.58%), potatoes (4.02%), garlic (2.87%), pulse mash (1.25%), wheat flour (1.02%), sugar (0.95%), pulse masoor (0.86%), and diesel (0.60%). On the other hand, items like LPG (1.49%), shirting (0.74%), beef (0.53%), rice basmati broken (0.48%), mutton (0.42%), mustard oil (0.40%), rice Irri 6/9 (0.25%), powdered milk (0.14%), and georgette (0.03%) saw a price increase.

Compared to the previous year, commodities like cooking oil 5-liter (21.35%), vegetable ghee 2.5 kg (18.48%), vegetable ghee 1 kg (18.44%), mustard oil (13.90%), bananas (13.52%), diesel (2.47%), and cigarettes (0.06%) saw a decrease in prices. However, commodities such as gas charges for Q1 (570.00%), chilies powder (86.05%), gents sponge chappal (58.05%), garlic (57.41%), onions (54.65%), gents sandal (53.37%), gur (39.86%), sugar (35.01%), salt powder (33.29%), energy saver (29.83%), and pulse mash (27.31%) experienced an increase in prices compared to the previous year.

This SPI report provides valuable insights into the fluctuations in prices for essential goods in Pakistan. It is significant for Pakistani rice exporters, rice suppliers, and rice mills in Pakistan as they can take note of these trends while making decisions regarding pricing and distribution. For comprehensive information on rice export from Pakistan and Pakistani rice prices, visit [www.hasrice.com](https://www.hasrice.com) or [www.pakistanrice.com](https://www.pakistanrice.com).

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