Amir Khan

The inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in Pakistan increased 24.5% on a year-on-year basis in December 2022, WealthPK reports. According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), on a month-on-month basis, the inflation increased by 0.5% in December 2022 as compared to 0.8% in the previous month. On a year-on-year basis, the price of onions increased by 463.5%, gram whole by 61.24%, wheat by 58.62%, tea by 58.09%, eggs by 57.78%, pulse gram by 54.34%, rice by 48.86%, pulse Mash by 44.33%, pulse Moong by 43.27%, chicken by 41.35%, mustard oil by 41.19%, dry fruits by 39.84%, cooking oil by 35.22%, cigarettes by 34.96%, vegetable ghee by 33.89%, fresh milk by 29.75%, tomatoes by 21.73%, meat by 21.61%, fish by 18.47%, potatoes by 15.34%, sugar by 3.84% and gur by 0.33%.

In the non-food commodities, the price of motor fuels increased by 51.66%, transport services by 51.17%, washing soaps, detergents and matchboxes by 37.90%, stationery by 37.8%, solid fuel by 37.66%, drugs and medicines by 33.64%, construction input items by 33.05%, motor vehicles accessories by 29.60%, readymade woolen garments by 18.63% and construction wage rates increased by 11.85%. However, the power tariff witnessed a decrease of 2.69%. Inflation in urban areas increased by 21.6% on a year-on-year basis in December 2022 as compared to 21.6% in the previous month. On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 0.3% in December 2022 as compared to 0.4% in the previous month.

CPI inflation in rural areas increased by 28.8% on a year-on-year basis in December as compared to 27.2% in the previous month and 11.6% in December 2021. On a month-on-month basis, the inflation increased by 0.7% as compared to an increase of 1.3% in the previous month. The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) inflation on a year-on-year basis increased by 27.8% in December 2022 as compared to 27.1% in November and 20.9% in December 2021. On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 0.2% as compared to 6.1% a month earlier and a decrease of 0.4% in December 2021.

The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation increased by 27.1% in December 2022 as compared to 27.7% a month earlier and an increase of 26.2% in December 2021. On a month-on-month basis, it decreased by 0.7%. The core inflation, measured by non-food non-energy for urban areas, increased to 14.7% in December 2022 as compared to 14.6% in the previous month and 8.3% in December 2021. On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 1.2% as compared to 0.8% in the previous month.

The core inflation, measured by non-food non-energy for rural areas, increased 19.0% in December 2022 as compared to 18.5% in the previous month. On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 1.5% in December 2022 as compared to an increase of 2.1% in the previous month and 1.1% in the corresponding month of last year, according to the PBS data available with WealthPK.

Credit : Independent News Pakistan-WealthPk