Headline inflation increases by 9.4pc in March

Headline inflation increases by 9.4pc in March

ISLAMABAD: The headline inflation based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) has increased by 9.4 percent on year-on-year basis in March, 2019 as compared to an increase of 8.2 percent in the previous month and 3.2 percent in March 2018.

The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Monday said that on month-on-month basis, it increased by 1.4 percent in March 2019 as compared to an increase of 0.6 percent in the previous month and an increase of 0.3 percent in corresponding month i.e. March 2018.

Core inflation measured by non-food non-energy CPI (Core NFNE) increased by 8.5 percent on (YoY) basis in March 2019 as compared to an increase of 8.8 percent in the previous month and 5.8 percent in March 2018.

On (MoM) basis, it increased by 0.5 percent in March 2019 as compared to an increase of 0.2 percent in previous month, and an increase of 0.7 percent in corresponding month of last year i.e. March 2018.

Core inflation, measured by 20 percent weighted trimmed mean CPI (Core Trimmed) increased by 7.9 percent on (YoY) basis in March 2019 as compared to 7.7 percent in the previous month and by 4.1 percent in March 2018. On (MoM) basis, it increased by 0.4 percent in March 2019 as compared to an increase of 0.2 percent in the previous month and an increase of 0.2 percent in corresponding month of last year i.e. March 2018.

Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) inflation on YoY basis increased by 8.8 percent in March 2019 as compared to an increase of 6.5 percent a month earlier and a decrease of 1.8 percent in March 2018.

On MoM basis, it increased by 1.6 percent as compared to an increase of 1.5 percent in the previous month and a decrease of 0.6 percent in corresponding month of last year i.e. March 2018.

Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation on YoY basis increased by 12.6 percent in March 2019 as compared to an increase of 11.0 percent a month earlier and an increase of 3.6 percent in March 2018.

WPI inflation on MoM basis increased by 1.7 percent in March 2019 as compared to an increase of 0.9 percent a month earlier and an increase of 0.2 percent in corresponding month of last year i.e. March 2018.