Headline inflation contracts in March to 10.2pc

Headline inflation contracts in March to 10.2pc

ISLAMABAD: The headline inflation has contracted to 10.2 percent in March 2020 as compared with inflation in the previous month.

Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Wednesday said that Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation increased by 10.2 percent on year-on-year basis in March 2020 as compared to an increase of 12.4 percent in the previous month and 8.6 percent in March 2019.

On month-on-month basis, it increased by 0.04 percent in March 2020 as compared to a decrease of 1.0 percent in the previous month and an increase of 2.0 percent in March 2019.

The CPI inflation in urban areas increased by 9.3 percent on year-on-year basis in March 2020 as compared to an increase of 11.2 percent in the previous month and 8.9 percent in March 2019.

On month-on-month basis, it increased by 0.1 percent in March 2020 as compared to a decrease of 1.1 percent in the previous month and an increase of 1.9 percent in March 2019.

CPI inflation in rural areas increased by 11.7 percent on year-on-year basis in March 2020 as compared to an increase of 14.2 percent in the previous month and 8.2 percent in March 2019.

On month-on-month basis, it decreased by 0.1 percent in March 2020 as compared to a decrease of 1.0 percent in the previous month and an increase of 2.2 percent in March 2019.

Sensitive Price Index (SPI) based inflation on YoY increased by 11.8 percent in March 2020 as compared to an increase of 14.5 percent a month earlier and an increase of 10.5 percent in March 2019. On MoM basis, it decreased by 0.3 percent in March 2020 as compared to a decrease of 0.8 percent a month earlier and an increase of 2.1 percent in March 2019.

Wholesale Price Indicator (WPI) inflation on YoY basis increased by 9.2 percent in March 2020 as compared to an increase of 12.6 percent a month earlier and an increase of 16.6 percent in March 2019.

WPI inflation on MoM basis it decreased by 0.9 percent in March 2020 as compared to a decrease of 0.8 percent a month earlier and an increase of 2.2 percent in corresponding month of last year i.e. March 2019.