Business

Inflation clocks in at 13.8% in May

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

Increase comes on back of a surge in prices of non-perishable food items.
On a month-on-month basis, inflation increased by 0.4% in May.
Cumulatively, 11MFY22 average inflation reached 11.29% year-on-year.

KARACHI: The inflation rate, based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) in May clocked in at 13.8% on a year-on-year basis — the highest since January 2020 — due to a surge in prices of non-perishable food items.

The CPI accelerated in May over the same month a year ago, showed the inflation bulletin released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Wednesday. The index remained higher in line with the trend since the last three months.

The new coalition government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif struggles to contain inflation, which experts said, was the outcome of record-high global commodity prices, and a 26% devaluation of the Pakistani rupee since the start of the outgoing fiscal year.

On a month-on-month basis, inflation slowed down as it clocked in at 0.44% in May 2022 compared to an increase of 1.6% in the previous month and an increase of 0.1% in May 2021. Cumulatively, 11MFY22 average inflation reached 11.29% year-on-year compared to 8.83% in 11MFY21.

The CPI-based inflation rate jumped 12.4% in urban areas and 15.9% in villages and towns, according to PBS.

Speaking to Geo.tv, an analyst from Arif Habib Ltd, Sana Tawfiq, said that the inflation rate was below the market expectation of 14.3%.

“An increase came on the back of three sectors — food, transport, and housing and electricity,” she said.

Tawfiq elaborated that an increase in food group month-on-month was in line with expectation, citing poultry items and wheat as major drivers.

The analyst was of the view that the impact of a significant increase in the price of petroleum products was partially reflected in May’s inflation rate; however, the complete impact would be seen in June’s number.

The inflation rate remained in double-digit — which has eroded the people’s purchasing power — due to an increase in the prices of food items, which are now taxed by the government. The pace of food inflation surged 15.5% in cities and 19% in villages and towns last month.

The prices of both non-perishable and perishable food products increased significantly last month. The food group saw over a 17% increase in prices in May compared to the same month a year ago. Prices of perishable food items increased 26.37%, according to the PBS.

Non-food inflation increased 10.4% in urban areas and 13.1% in rural areas, according to the national data collecting agency.

Core inflation — calculated after excluding food and energy goods — jumped 9.7% in urban areas and 11.5% in rural areas. Tawfiq maintained that a continuous increase in core inflation is a “major concern.”

The prices of tomatoes — an essential kitchen item — were higher by 162.22% last month compared to a year ago, followed by a 153.44% increase in the rates of onions, and around 60% of various types of ghee and cooking oil, according to the PBS.

The prices of pulses increased by over 50%, wheat by 18.42%, and meat and vegetables by nearly one-fourth and vegetables, according to the PBS.

“Going forward, the inflation rate would remain under pressure and in double digits for the next three months; it would start easing from September onwards,” the analyst said.

Regarding the monetary policy rate, scheduled to be announced on July 7, she noted that the central bank is expected to raise the policy rate by another 100-150 basis points.

Business

An investigation was “launched” into PTA’s inability to get Rs. 78 billion back from Telcos

Published

18 hours ago

Farwa

The PTA has reportedly been instructed to reply to NAB by July 29. According to the enquiry, the national exchequer has suffered losses as a result of the delay in collecting dues.

The PTA has been asked to provide NAB with information about any pertinent records, court proceedings, and overdue bills. The NAB Karachi has summoned the PTA officials to appear with all pertinent documentation.

All of the principle sum has to be paid by the LDI firms, according to sources. But due to judicial stay orders, the collection of dues has been impeded.

These sources further state that a steering group has been established by the Ministry of IT to supervise the issue of dues recovery.

In a previous event, the tariffs levied on importing cell phones from outside were clarified by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA).

Contrary to what some internet reports claim, PTA clarified in response to recent news regarding the tariffs on mobile phone imports that there hasn’t been a formal decision to remove these levies in Pakistan.

the PTA.Pakistanis living abroad will be the only ones free from these levies, according to the PTA. A SIM card can be inserted and the phone restarted to temporarily register a device for non-PTA mobile subscribers.

Business

Weekly inflation in Pakistan increased by 0.17 percent.

Published

18 hours ago

Farwa

The SPI for the week under review in the aforementioned group was reported at 321.95 points, as opposed to 321.40 points during the previous week, according to the PBS statistics.

The SPI for the combined consumption group saw a 20.09 percent increase in the week under review compared to the same week the previous year.

The weekly SPI includes 51 necessary items for every spending group and 17 urban areas, with a base year of 2015–16 = 100.

The SPI for the lowest consumption category, which is up to Rs 17,732, grew by 0.08 percent from 311.97 points to 312.22 points this past week.

0.18 percent,The index of consumption for the lowest consumption groups, which are Rs 17,732-22,888, Rs 22,889-29,517, Rs 29,518-44,175 and above Rs 44,175; increased by 0.13 percent, 0.15 percent, 0.18 and 0.19 percent, respectively.

Nineteen (37.25%) of the fifty-one commodities had price increases over the week, eight (15.69%) had price decreases, and twenty-four (47.06%) had unchanged pricing.

On a weekly basis, the following commodities saw significant price decreases: tomatoes (9.19%), onions (2.14%), LPG (1.04%), bananas (0.53%), wheat flour (0.35%), potatoes (0.17%), pulse masoor (0.16%), and bread (0.05%).

Chicken (4.80%), garlic (2.01%), pulse gramme (1.87%), eggs (1.71%), beef (0.93%), gur (0.89%), pulse moong (0.84%), fresh milk (0.45%), firewood (0.23%), and cigarettes (0.12%) were among the items whose average prices increased significantly week over week.

The commodities that saw a year-over-year decline were: wheat flour (31.75%); cooking oil (13.44%); vegetable ghee 2.5 kg (10.42%); vegetable ghee 1 kg (9.85%); mustard oil (8.33%); eggs (5.82%); rice basmati broken (4.15%); and tea package (2.52%).

Gas prices for Q1 (570.00%), onions (96.01%), pulse gramme (40.39%), powered milk (39.11%), garlic (34.61%), pulse moong (29.77%), men’s sandals (25.01%), beef (23.52%), salt powder (23.28%), pulse mash (22.50%), and energy saver (17.96%) were among the commodities whose average prices increased year over year.

Business

The price of gold has drastically dropped in Pakistan.

Published

2 days ago

Farwa

As per the All-Pakistan Gems and Jewellers Sarafa Association (APGJSA), the cost of 24-karat gold per tola decreased by Rs 2,300, standing at Rs 250,500.

A kilogramme of 24-karat gold costing Rs1,972 less at the local market, making it worth Rs2114,763. Ten grammes of 22-karat gold had a price decrease to Rs196,866 as well.

After losing a significant $43 during the day, the rate per ounce of gold on the international market also decreased. It currently stands at $2,370.

On Thursday, the price of 24-karat silver also experienced a decline, falling by Rs60 to settle at Rs2,860 petal.