ISLAMABAD, May 30: The rate of inflation for 44 commodities including wheat, rice, pulses, meat, kitchen fuel and poultry products stood at 9% in April 2012. This is a comparatively smaller increase than the 15% inflation rate in the same month last year. However, the overall rate of inflation over the last two years (April 2010-April 2012) went up by 25%.

Region-wise rate of inflation in 2012Punjab:  10% KP:  8% Balochistan: 7% Sindh:  6%

A Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) special report, which will be released tomorrow (Thursday), said that since April 2010 its monitors have been observing the prices of 52 commodities on a monthly basis. The prices of commodities, whose quality and quantity are specified on standardized forms, are collected from outlets in 200 constituencies of 126 districts and tribal agencies across Pakistan on the 10^th of every month.

This analysis is based on the prices of 44 commodities in locations common in April 2010, 2011 and 2012. Inflation reduces people’s purchasing power and affects the standard of living. Enhancing and maintaining standards of living is one of the key elements of good governance.

The observed commodities were categorized as pulses, fruits, dry fruit, poultry products, dairy items, meat, sweeteners, rice varieties, wheat, vegetables, kitchen fuels, cooked items, spices and condiments, medicines and medical services.

Food inflation rate in2011: 17% 2012: 9% From 2010 to 2012: 26%

In 2012, tomatoes registered the highest inflation with their price increasing by 85% over a year. Black gram and bananas followed with a hike of 40% and 39%, respectively. However, cost of blood sugar test and price of wheat grain, saw no change. The biggest decrease was in the price of garlic that fell 45%. Sugar and gur followed with a drop of 16% each.

Wheat grain had an inflation rate of 4% between 2010 and 2011. However, its average price remained Rs29 per kg from 2011 to 2012.

The observed rice varieties experienced an inflation rate of 9% in 2012. All the monitored poultry products registered an increase in prices over the year. As compared to 2011, the inflation rate of eggs was 7%, chicken meat (24%) and chicken live (17%). Compared to last year, the inflation rate of pulses was 14%.

This report is based on prices collected from 81 constituencies in 58 districts across Pakistan. Of these, 33 constituencies were in 20 districts in Punjab, 22 in 16 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) districts, 19 in 15 Sindh districts and seven constituencies in as many districts in Balochistan