ISLAMABAD – Pakistan’s short-term inflation recorded a minor decline during the outgoing week, offering limited relief to many households struggling with high prices. The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday showed a decrease of 0.02 percent compared to the previous week.
However, on a yearly basis, prices were still 5.03 percent higher than the same period last year, showing that most households continue to face financial pressure despite the weekly ease.
Mixed trend in essential goods
The SPI tracks 51 key items from 50 markets across 17 major cities. Out of these, prices of 22 items increased, 4 items declined, while 25 remained unchanged.
Wheat flour brought the biggest relief, becoming 9.80 percent cheaper. Chicken dropped by 3.20 percent, bananas by 3.10 percent, and gur by 0.30 percent.
Meanwhile, several staples became costlier. Onion prices surged 12.17 percent, tomatoes rose 10.47 percent, and potatoes went up by 3.57 percent. LPG prices also increased by 3.10 percent. Smaller hikes were seen in rice, eggs, sugar, and pulses.
Yearly comparison shows pressure on Households
On a year-on-year basis, the SPI reflected a 5.03 percent rise. Some essential items became cheaper, such as onions (down 40.28 percent), garlic (26.69 percent), and electricity charges (21.37 percent). Prices of pulse gram, tea, potatoes, and masoor also dropped compared to last year.
But many key items surged in price, hitting households hard. Tomatoes saw a staggering 90.07 percent increase. Ladies’ sandals rose 55.62 percent, while gas charges jumped 29.85 percent. Sugar went up by 29.33 percent, wheat flour by 18.65 percent, and beef by 11.92 percent.
Experts say that while the slight weekly decline offers temporary relief, households will continue to feel the burden of rising costs unless broader inflationary pressures ease in the coming months.
In other news read more about: Short-term Inflation in Pakistan Rises to Massive 43.2 Percent
