The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the week ending November 20 was recorded at 335.54 points, up from 335.31 points last week. On an annual basis, the SPI showed a significant rise of 3.53%. All consumption groups, including the lowest earners (up to Rs17,732), saw their weekly cost of living creep up.
A deep dive into the data reveals that the prices of 16 essential commodities increased, with Tomatoes seeing a shocking 57.03% hike. Other major increases included LPG (5.16%), garlic (2.61%), Sugar (2.23%), and diesel (2.17%), which directly impacts transportation costs.
Consumers did find some relief, however, as 13 items saw their prices fall, including onions (12.38%), chicken (8.07%), and potatoes (5.69%). Despite this weekly relief on a few items, long-term pain is evident, with year-on-year data showing major price surges for Sugar (43.77%), gas charges (29.85%), and wheat flour (17.31%).
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Expert Analysis: The marginal overall weekly inflation increase masks high volatility in essential food items, especially the massive spike in tomato prices, suggesting severe localized supply chain issues or hoarding. The major year-on-year increases in staples like sugar and wheat flour indicate persistent structural inflationary pressures that continue to strain household budgets across all income levels.
