Overview
- PBS data for the week ended March 5 show the Sensitive Price Index up 0.37% week on week, with annual inflation at 4.70%.
- Sharp weekly increases hit chicken (+10.46%), LPG (+5.61%), petrol (+3.06%), diesel (+1.84%) and bananas (+3.85%).
- Notable declines were recorded in tomatoes (-10.04%), eggs (-8.13%), potatoes (-5.09%), onions (-6.08%) and wheat flour (-2.40%).
- Out of 51 tracked items, 13 rose in price, 11 fell and 27 were unchanged, underscoring uneven short-term movements.
- Inflation burdens varied by income group, ranging from 4.57% for households earning up to Rs17,732 to 5.95% for those at Rs17,733–22,888, with experts cautioning that near-term pressures could persist.