According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, during the week ending on April 4th, the prices of essential commodities in the country increased by 0.96 percent on a weekly basis and 29.45 percent on an annual basis.

The prices of 13 essential items decreased and 22 items remained stable during the week, while the prices of 16 items increased.

Also read: Cooking oil & ghee prices drop in Pakistan

During the past week, there was a decrease in the prices of bananas by 3.57 percent, flour by 2.68 percent, eggs by 1.89 percent, LPG by 1.89 percent, diesel by 1.18 percent, jaggery by 0.63 percent, sugar by 0.41 percent, mustard oil by 0.26 percent, lentils by 0.25 percent, and potatoes by 0.23 percent.

In contrast, there was an increase in the prices of women’s shoes by 12.52 percent, tomatoes by 11.93 percent, men’s shoes by 8.70 percent, petrol by 3.45 percent, chicken by 2.99 percent, clothing by 2.23 percent, onions by 1.30 percent, bread by 1.03 percent, beef by 0.75 percent, garlic by 0.70 percent, mutton by 0.41 percent, and broken basmati rice by 0.14 percent.

There was an increase of 0.83 percent in the price sensitivity index for the group with a monthly income of up to Rs. 17,732, 0.90 percent for those earning between Rs. 17,734 to Rs. 22,888, 0.85 percent for those earning between Rs. 22,889 to Rs. 29,518, and 1.02 percent for those earning more than Rs. 29,517.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for consumers is based on the prices of 51 essential items in 50 major markets in 17 big cities across the country.