20000215

Inflation rate rises marginally during last 7 months

RECORDER REPORT

ISLAMABAD: The consumer indicators reflected the lowest increase in the rate of inflation during July-January 1999-2000, over the corresponding period of the last three years.

Statistics released here on Monday show that the inflation rates based on Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), Consumers Price Index (CPI) and Wholesale Price Index (WPI) increased by 1.84 percent, 3.37 percent and 1.53 percent, respectively, during July-January 1999-2000, over the corresponding period of 1998-99.

The SPI, CPI and WPI increased in 1998-99 by 7.10 percent, 6.49 percent and 6.92 percent, respectively, over the corresponding period of 1997-98.

An analysis of data for the last three years indicates that the increase was the lowest during July-January 1999-2000.

January over corresponding period of last year: The inflation rates based on SPI and CPI for January 2000 increased by 0.62 percent and 3.43 percent respectively over January 1999 while WPI in January 2000 decreased by 0.41 percent over January 1999.

They increased in January 1999 by 6.71 percent, 6.23 percent and 7.32 percent respectively over January 1998 and during this month the rate of inflation increased on SPI 6.07 percent, CPI 5.75 percent and WPI 3.90 percent over January 1997.

An analysis of data for the last three years for the month of January indicates that the increase was the lowest during 1999-2000 as compared with the last two years, 1998-99 and 1997-98.

January over previous month: The CPI and WPI in January 2000 increased by 0.20 percent and 0.30 percent over December 1999 while SPI decreased by 0.23 percent over previous month.

During January 1999 SPI and CPI decreased by 0.78 percent and 0.18 percent respectively over December 1998 while WPI in January 1999 increased by 0.59 percent over previous month.

The SPI and CPI for January 1998 showed a decrease of 0.24 percent and 0.05 percent over December 1997 respectively while WPI in January 1998 showed an increase of 0.01 percent over December 1997.