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Inflation down to 3-year low

ISLAMABAD: Official inflation rates based on three major indicators were down to three-year low at the end of February 2000, the Federal Bureau of Statistics said on Tuesday.

Inflation rate based on Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the year July-February 1999-2000 increased by 1.66 percent. It increased by 3.32 percent based on Consumer Price Indicator (CPI), and inflation rate based on Wholesale Price Indicator (WPI) increased by 1.25 percent respectively over the corresponding period of the last year 1998-99.

During the month of February 2000, Sensitive Price Indicator increased by 0.30 percent and Wholesale Price Indicator (WPI) increased by 1.05 percent over January 2000.

According to latest figures released by the Federal Bureau of Statistics, Consumer Price Indicator (CPI) decreased 0.20 percent compared to January 2000.

During February 1999, SPI increased by 0.55 percent, CPI increased by 0.38 percent and WPI by 0.60 percent when compared to January 1999.

SPI, CPI, and WPI for February 1998 showed an increase of 0.30 percent, 0.36 percent, and 0.34 percent respectively over January 1998.

Inflation rate based on SPI increased by 7.08 percent during 1998-99 while CPI increased by 6.46 percent and WPI during 1998-99 increased by 7.01 percent over corresponding period of the previous year (1997-98).-Fortuna