Tag: PBS

  • Headline inflation increases by 8.8 percent in April 2019

    Headline inflation increases by 8.8 percent in April 2019

    ISLAMABAD: The headline inflation has surged by 8.8 percent on year on year (YoY) in April 2019 as compared to an increase of 9.4 percent in previous month and 3.7 percent in April 2018, said Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Thursday.

    The Consumer Price Index (CPI) based inflation on month-on-month basis, it increased by 1.3 percent in April 2019 as compared to an increase of 1.4 percent in the previous month and an increase of 1.8 percent in corresponding month i.e. April 2018.

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

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

    The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) inflation on YoY basis increased by 9.3 percent in April 2019 as compared to an increase of 8.8 percent a month earlier and a decrease of 0.5 percent in April 2018.

    On MoM basis, it increased by 0.9 percent as compared to an increase of 1.6 percent in the previous month and an increase of 0.4 percent in corresponding month of last year i.e. April 2018.

    Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation on YoY basis increased by 13.8 percent in April 2019 as compared to an increase of 12.6 percent a month earlier and an increase of 4.0 percent in April 2018.

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

  • Essential items’ prices inflate for three consecutive weeks in April

    Essential items’ prices inflate for three consecutive weeks in April

    The prices of essential commodities have risen for the third consecutive week this month, signaling high headline inflation for April 2019. According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) has consistently increased in the weeks ending April 4, 11, and 18, reflecting a challenging trend for consumers.

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  • Trade deficit contracts by 13.02 percent to $23.67 billion in nine months

    Trade deficit contracts by 13.02 percent to $23.67 billion in nine months

    ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s trade deficit has contracted by 13.02 percent during first nine months (July – March) 2018/2019 due to significant decline in import bill in the same period, according to trade data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Wednesday.

    The trade deficit shrank to $23.67 billion during first nine months of current fiscal year as compared with the deficit of $27.21 billion in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

    The import bill during the first nine months was declined by 8 percent to $40.75 billion as compared with $44.28 billion in the same period of the last fiscal year.

    Experts said that the imposition of regulatory duty on luxury and non-essential items during the last budget and followed in the supplementary budget helped in curtailing import growth.

    However, growth in exports was remained flat. The exports were at $17.08 billion during the period under review as compared with $17.06 billion in the same period of the last fiscal year.

    The import bill sharply declined by 21 percent in the month of March 2019 to $4.15 billion as compared with $5.25 billion in the same month of the last fiscal year.

    On the other hand the exports also fell by 11.13 percent in the month under review. The exports exhibited decline of 11.13 percent decline to $1.98 billion in March 2019 as compared with $2.28 billion in the same month of last year.

    The reduction in import bill in March 2019 resulted in narrowed trade deficit for the month. The trade deficit was contracted by 28.07 percent to $2.17 billion in March 2019 as compared with $3.02 billion in March 2018.

  • Mobile phones import down by 22.15 percent on mandatory registration

    Mobile phones import down by 22.15 percent on mandatory registration

    KARACHI: The import of mobile phones has declined by 22.15 percent in February 2019 following imposition of mandatory registration with regulatory authority, said Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Saturday.

    The import of cellular phones reduced to $54.32 million in February 2019 when compared with $69.78 million in the same month of the last year.

    It is pertinent to mention here that cell phone registered with Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) will be activated in the country.

    This mandatory requirement has stopped influx of all unregistered phones into the country and resulted in saving precious foreign exchange.

    The overall imports of cell phones during July – February 2018/2019 also showing decline of 9.11 percent to $478.13 million as compared with $526.03 million in the corresponding period of the last fiscal year.

    Industry experts said that the rupee depreciation had discouraged the imports.

    They also said that in the latest mini-budget the measures taken by the government would further discourage import of luxury cell phones.

    The government revised upward the regime of duty and taxes for import of mobile phones into the country.

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  • Prices of essential items increase by 11.72 percent: PBS

    Prices of essential items increase by 11.72 percent: PBS

    KARACHI: The prices of essential items increased by 11.72 percent by week ended March 07, 2019 when compared with the same week last year, according to data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday.

    According to Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) all the income groups had witnessed inflation for the period.

    The PBS computes the weekly SPI with base 2007-2008=100 covering 17 urban centers and 53 essential items for all income groups / quintiles and combined.

    The statistics have shown that price of tomatoes posted 308 percent growth to Rs128.42 per kilogram for the week under review as compared with Rs31.42/kg in the corresponding week of the last year.

    The price of LPG cylinder grew by 19 percent for the period. While prices of High Speed Diesel, Petrol and Kerosene Oil witnessed increase in their prices by 13.13 percent, 5.57 percent and 6.8 percent, respectively.

  • Pakistan’s import bill declines by 19.14pc in January

    Pakistan’s import bill declines by 19.14pc in January

    ISLAMABAD, February 5, 2019 – In a positive economic development, Pakistan’s import bill experienced a notable contraction, decreasing by 19.14 percent to $4.5 billion in January 2019, as reported by official statistics released on Monday.

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  • Mobile phone import declines by 18.69pc on unregistered IMEI blocking

    Mobile phone import declines by 18.69pc on unregistered IMEI blocking

    The import of mobile phones in Pakistan witnessed a significant decline of 18.69 percent in December 2018, attributed to the government’s stringent measures to block unregistered International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) numbers.

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  • Car imports fall sharply by 43pc on regulatory duty, currency devaluation

    Car imports fall sharply by 43pc on regulatory duty, currency devaluation

    The car imports in Pakistan experienced a substantial decline by 43 percent due to significant devaluation of local currency and imposition of regulatory duty.

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  • Inflation increases more faster for lower income group

    Inflation increases more faster for lower income group

    In Pakistan, the prices of essential items have witnessed a more rapid increase for lower income groups earning up to Rs8,000 per month in comparison to other income segments.

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