Latest news with #SensitivePriceIndicator
Express Tribune
24-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Weekly inflation eases 0.29%
Market analysts caution that IMF-related measures in the upcoming FY2026 budget—particularly new taxes and adjustments in energy prices—may lead to a renewed spike in inflation. PHOTO: FILE Listen to article The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ending May 22, 2025, recorded a week-on-week decrease of 0.29%, bringing the SPI index down to 312.34 from 313.24 in the previous week. This decline was largely driven by reductions in the prices of key food and energy items. However, despite this weekly drop, the year-on-year SPI still reflected a modest increase of 1.35%, indicating ongoing inflationary pressure. This trend follows several weeks of fluctuations, with the SPI having previously dipped as low as -3.5% in late April before rebounding in May. The SPI is calculated weekly to monitor the price movement of essential commodities over shorter intervals, enabling a timely review of the price situation in the country. It tracks a basket of 51 essential items, with data collected from 50 markets across 17 major cities nationwide. The weekly decline was primarily attributed to significant drops in chicken prices, which fell by 7.26%, followed by decreases in onions (-5.43%), garlic (-2.71%), LPG (-2.44%), potatoes (-0.95%), mustard oil (-0.80%), diesel (-0.78%), pulse masoor (-0.46%), cooking oil (-0.14%), rice IRRI-6/9 (-0.09%), firewood (-0.06%), and both vegetable ghee (-2.5kg) and sugar (-0.05%). Conversely, upward pressure was noted in prices of tomatoes, which surged by 12.01%, eggs by 8.16%, gur by 1.50%, bananas by 1.00%, pulse moong by 0.79%, wheat flour by 0.63%, pulse gram by 0.39%, powdered milk by 0.36%, rice basmati broken by 0.34%, pulse mash by 0.30%, mutton by 0.26%, energy savers by 0.21%, and beef by 0.12%. Out of the 51 items monitored, prices of 13 items (25.49%) increased, 14 items (27.45%) declined, while the remaining 24 items (47.06%) remained unchanged during the week. Year-on-year data showed sharp increases in prices of ladies' sandals (55.62%), chicken (45.12%), pulse moong (30.79%), powdered milk (24.01%), bananas (22.43%), sugar (22.12%), eggs (21.52%), pulse gram (20.70%), beef (17.56%), vegetable ghee 2.5kg (13.86%), LPG (13.05%), and vegetable ghee 1kg (12.76%). At the same time, the steepest annual declines were observed in onions (-54.93%), potatoes (-30.46%), garlic (-29.43%), electricity charges for Q1 (-29.40%), tea Lipton (-17.93%), wheat flour (-16.63%), pulse mash (-16.03%), tomatoes (-14.03%), chilli powder (-12.30%), rice IRRI-6/9 (-8.50%), pulse masoor (-7.64%), and petrol (-7.43%). Items such as chicken, garlic, and potatoes have shown consistent weekly declines, contributing to the overall easing in SPI over recent months. However, fluctuating prices of petrol, diesel, and LPG continue to drive volatility in inflation trends. Periodic depreciation of the rupee against the US dollar has also contributed to higher imported inflation, further complicating the inflation outlook. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP)'s tight monetary policy stance and administrative price controls on key commodities have so far helped anchor inflation expectations. Market analysts caution that International Monetary Fund-related measures in the upcoming FY2026 budgetparticularly new taxes and adjustments in energy pricesmay lead to a renewed spike in inflation. However, a favourable base effect along with improved agricultural output could help ease inflation in the second half of FY2025, provided macroeconomic stability is maintained.
Express Tribune
17-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Heydays over as SPI jumps 1.29% YoY
The Sensitive Price Indicator for week ending July 14 showed an increase of 16.13 per cent compared to the same week last year. PHOTO: FILE Listen to article The heydays of declining inflation driven by low base effects appear to be over as the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ended May 15, 2025 exhibited a year-on-year increase of 1.29% and a notable week-on-week (WoW) rise of 1.03%, signalling renewed upward pressure on essential commodity prices. The SPI for the week ended May 15, 2025 showed a combined increase of 1.03% WoW, rising from 310.05 to 313.24. Compared to the same week of last year (May 16, 2024), the index recorded a year-on-year (YoY) growth of 1.29%, up from 309.25, according to AHL. The SPI is calculated on a weekly basis to monitor short-term price movements of essential commodities. It serves as an important tool for assessing inflationary trends and reviewing the overall price situation. For the week ended May 15, 2025, the notable WoW price hikes were observed in chicken (15.95%), eggs (8.34%), sugar (1.97%), long cloth (1.74%), powdered milk (1.59%), gur (1.48%), pulse gram (0.94%), printed lawn (0.77%), mutton (0.62%), cooked beef (0.49%) and energy savers (0.31%). Conversely, significant declines were seen in prices of tomatoes (5.20%), garlic (3.45%), onions (2.57%), potatoes (1.93%), branded tea – Lipton (1.14%), LPG (0.90%), broken Basmati rice (0.54%), 2.5kg vegetable ghee (0.38%) and 1kg vegetable ghee (0.23%). Out of the 51 items surveyed, prices of 18 items (35.29%) increased, 12 items (23.53%) decreased while 21 items (41.18%) remained unchanged.
Express Tribune
10-05-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Price pulse ticks up slightly WoW
Listen to article The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), an indicator of short-term inflation, recorded a slight increase of 0.24% reflecting mixed trends in essential commodity prices for the week ending May 8, 2025. Notable hikes were seen in the prices of chicken, eggs, and sugar, while sharp declines were observed in tomatoes, garlic, and potatoes. Out of 51 monitored items, prices of 9 increased, 17 fell, and 25 remained unchanged. On a year-on-year basis, the SPI shows a 0.80% decline, driven largely by significant drops in food and energy items, despite notable increases in selected consumer goods and protein sources. The SPI is compiled on a weekly basis to monitor short-term price movements of essential commodities across the country. It serves as a key tool for assessing inflationary trends and reviewing the overall price situation. The SPI covers a basket of 51 essential items, with data collected from 50 markets in 17 major cities nationwide. For the week ending May 8, 2025, the SPI registered an increase of 0.24%. This uptick was primarily driven by significant price hikes in key food items, including chicken (10.20%), eggs (7.36%), sugar (1.93%), beef (1.50%), pulse mash (0.31%), cooked beef (0.20%), mutton (0.15%), and gur (0.11%). Conversely, notable declines were observed in the prices of tomatoes (8.81%), garlic (5.05%), potatoes (3.33%), onions (2.08%), LPG (1.66%), bananas (0.93%), petrol (0.83%), diesel (0.78%), wheat flour (0.76%), vegetable ghee 1 kg (0.46%), and mustard oil (0.33%). During the week under review, prices of 9 items (17.65%) increased, 17 items (33.33%) decreased, and 25 items (49.02%) remained stable. On a year-on-year basis, the SPI showed a decline of 0.80%, with substantial reductions in the prices of onions (62.53%), tomatoes (44.54%), garlic (36.16%), electricity charges for Q1 (29.40%), potatoes (27.42%), wheat flour (24.17%), Lipton tea (16.98%), pulse mash (16.49%), chilies powder (13.45%), petrol (12.36%), and diesel (8.91%). However, several items recorded notable year-on-year increases, such as ladies' sandals (55.62%), pulse moong (28.47%), chicken (27.35%), powdered milk (22.27%), pulse gram (20.81%), bananas (19.86%), sugar (19.36%), beef (19.23%), vegetable ghee 2.5 kg (14.24%), firewood (10.60%), lawn printed fabric (10.33%), and georgette (9.90%).
Express Tribune
25-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
SPI falls to lowest YoY level
Microfinance banks remained under stress as the asset quality indicators deteriorated along with after-tax losses. photo: file Listen to article The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), an inflation gauge, for the week ended April 24, 2025 recorded a historic year-on-year (YoY) decline of 3.52% - the lowest drop ever recorded since data became available. Similarly, it registered a week-on-week (WoW) decrease of 1.92%, signalling continued relief in consumer prices for key commodities. "The SPI recorded a decrease of 3.52% YoY – the lowest ever since the data was available," wrote Arif Habib Limited (AHL). The SPI is computed on a weekly basis to assess the price movement in essential commodities at short intervals. It comprises 51 essential items whose data is collected from 50 markets across 17 cities. The weekly decline of 1.92% in the inflation rate was primarily driven by a notable reduction in prices of several essential items, including electricity charges for Q1, which fell 19.17%, followed by chicken (11.75%), wheat flour (5.68%), garlic (4.66%), bananas (3.51%), onions (1.93%), Irri-6/9 rice (1.58%), mustard oil (1.10%), LPG (1.09%) and tomatoes (0.76%). Conversely, certain commodities exhibited an uptick in prices. The most prominent increase was seen in potatoes (6.94%), followed by eggs (0.66%). Additionally, salt powder and cigarettes each rose 0.51%, while minor increases were observed in prices of gur (0.37%), curd (0.18%), pulse masoor (0.09%), long cloth (0.08%), pulse gram (0.07%) and lawn – printed fabric (0.06%). Out of the 51 items monitored during the week, the prices of 11 items (21.57%) increased, 18 items (35.29%) decreased and 22 items (43.14%) remained unchanged. On a YoY basis, the SPI showed an overall decline of 3.52%. A significant decrease was noted in prices of onions (69.78%), tomatoes (40.77%), garlic (31.96%), wheat flour (30.70%), electricity charges for Q1 (29.40%), Lipton tea (16.98%), potatoes (16.93%), chilli powder (15.69%), pulse mash (15.62%), petrol (13.24%) and diesel (10.85%). Meanwhile, the highest increase over the year was observed in ladies' sandals (55.62%), pulse moong (26.85%), powdered milk (23.11%), pulse gram (21.08%), beef (18.64%), sugar (16.14%), vegetable ghee - 2.5 kg (15.45%), vegetable ghee – 1 kg (14.50%), cooked daal (12.77%), firewood (10.49%), printed lawn (10.33%), and georgette fabric (9.90%). Brokerage house JS Global projected inflation for April 2025 at around 0.3% while Topline put it below 0.5%.
Express Tribune
18-04-2025
- Business
- Express Tribune
Lower food prices reduce inflation
Listen to article The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ended April 17, 2025 recorded a notable decrease of 0.69% compared to the previous week, reflecting the downward trend in prices of several key food items. The most significant decline was observed in tomatoes, chicken, onions and garlic, alongside reduction in wheat flour, potatoes and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Conversely, a moderate price increase was recorded in textiles and select protein and pulse items, including shirting, lawn (printed fabric), pulse gram and beef-related products. The 0.69% decline in SPI was primarily driven by a notable reduction in prices of essential food items including tomatoes (22.77%), chicken (11.05%), onions (9.82%), garlic (8.85%), wheat flour (2.37%), potatoes (2.18%), mustard oil (0.95%), LPG (0.89%) and 1kg vegetable ghee (0.68%). In contrast, certain items registered a rise in prices during the same period. These included shirting (3.68%), lawn (printed fabric) (1.47%), long cloth and georgette (1.33% each), pulse gram (1.03%), cooked beef (0.74%), beef (0.66%), cooked daal (0.56%), mutton (0.48%), pulse moong (0.03%) and a slight increase of 0.02% each in Irri-6/9 rice and fresh milk. Out of the 51 essential items monitored, prices of 16 items (31.37%) increased, 18 items (35.29%) decreased and 17 items (33.34%) remained unchanged. On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, the SPI showed a decline of 2.72%. A significant reduction was recorded in prices of onions (73.63%), tomatoes (52.75%), wheat flour (30.14%), garlic (28.94%), potatoes (20.92%), chilli powder (18.94%), branded tea (Lipton) (16.98%), chicken (15.17%), petrol (13.24%), Q1 electricity charges (12.66%) and diesel (10.85%). However, a notable annual increase was observed in prices of ladies' sandals (55.62%), pulse moong (27.21%), powdered milk (24.71%), pulse gram (21%), beef (19.06%), sugar (17.14%), 2.5kg vegetable ghee (15.75%), 1kg vegetable ghee (15.43%), cooked daal (13.40%), firewood (10.49%), shirting (10.28%) and lawn (printed fabric) (10.26%). SPI is compiled on a weekly basis to monitor short-term price fluctuations in essential commodities. It covers 51 items from 50 markets in 17 cities across the country, providing a timely snapshot of the inflationary pressures faced by consumers. Among income groups, all quintiles saw a WoW decrease, with Q1 and Q2 – representing the lowest income brackets – experiencing the highest decline of 0.80%. Q3 registered a 0.72% decrease, Q4 recorded a 0.73% drop and Q5 – the highest income group – exhibited a relatively smaller decline of 0.64%.
