CPI inflation increases to 8.82% in April: PBS data

KARACHI: Pakistan’s consumer price inflation eased in April to 8.82 per cent on annual basis from 9.41 per cent in March, which was the highest level since November 2013, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday.

On a month-on-month basis, prices increased by 1.26 per cent in April.

Rising petrol and diesel prices, as well as an increase in the cost of food items such as carrots, oranges, cabbage and chicken, were the main reasons behind the month-on-month spike in inflation.

Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation General increased by 8.8 per cent on year-on-year basis in April, 2019 as compared to an increase of 9.4 per cent in the previous month and 3.7 per cent in April 2018. On month-on-month basis, it increased by 1.3 per cent in April 2019 as compared to an increase of 1.4 per cent in the previous month and an increase of 1.8 per cent in corresponding month i.e. April 2018.

Core inflation measured by non-food non-energy CPI (Core NFNE) increased by 7.0 per cent on (YoY) basis in April 2019 as compared to an increase of 8.5 per cent in the previous month and 7.0 per cent in April 2018. On (MoM) basis, it increased by 1.0 per cent in April 2019 as compared to an increase of 0.5 per cent in previous month, and an increase of 2.5 per cent in corresponding month of last year i.e. April 2018.

Core inflation, measured by 20 per cent weighted trimmed mean CPI (Core Trimmed) increased by 7.2 per cent on (YoY) basis in April 2019 as compared to 7.9 per cent in the previous month and by 5.0 per cent in April 2018. On (MoM) basis, it increased by 0.9% in April 2019 as compared to an increase of 0.4% in the previous month and an increase of 1.6% in corresponding month of last year i.e. April 2018.

SPI inflation on YoY basis increased by 9.3% in April 2019 as compared to an increase of 8.8% a month earlier and a decrease of 0.5% in April 2018. On MoM basis, it increased by 0.9% as compared to an increase of 1.6% in the previous month and an increase of 0.4% in corresponding month of last year i.e. April 2018.

WPI inflation on YoY basis increased by 13.8% in April 2019 as compared to an increase of 12.6% a month earlier and an increase of 4.0% in April 2018. WPI inflation on MoM basis increased by 2.3% in April 2019 as compared to an increase of 1.7% a month earlier and an increase of 1.3% in corresponding month of last year i.e. April 2018.

 

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