Prices of 18 essential commodities, including chicken, pulses, tomatoes, domestic LPG cylinders and bananas, increased over the past week, according to the Bureau of Statistics’ weekly inflation report.

The report said the annual inflation rate rose to 4.52 per cent every week.

Tomatoes became more expensive by Rs 6.87 per kilogram, while the price of a domestic LPG cylinder increased by Rs55.29 during the week.

Chicken prices rose by more than Rs 11 per kilogram, and bananas became costlier by Rs 4.32 per dozen. Dal mash increased by Rs6.41 per kilogram, while gram dal went up by Rs 3.29 per kilogram.

Firewood, vegetable ghee, cigarettes and garlic were also among the items that recorded price increases.

The report noted that prices of nine items declined during the week.

Potatoes became cheaper by Rs3.27 per kilogram, onions by more than Rs 4 per kilogram, and a 20-kilogram bag of flour dropped by Rs29.

Salt, jaggery, sugar and lentils also saw a decrease in prices.

According to the statistics agency, prices of 24 items, including bread, fresh milk, and curd, remained stable.

The report also noted that the rupee depreciated by Rs0.17 during the week.