The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Friday that weekly inflation increased by 0.56 percent during the week ending October 2. The rise was measured through the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), which tracks essential items across different income groups.
The SPI for the combined consumption group was recorded at 332.17 points, up from 330.32 points last week. On a year-on-year basis, weekly inflation increased by 4.07 percent compared to the same week last year.
The SPI covers 17 urban centers and 51 essential items. For households earning up to Rs17,732, inflation rose by 0.82 percent, reaching 325.43 points. For other income groups, the increase ranged from 0.49 percent to 0.76 percent, with higher-income groups experiencing a slightly smaller rise.
Out of 51 monitored items, prices of 19 items increased, 12 declined, while 20 remained unchanged. The sharpest weekly increase was seen in tomatoes, which rose 46.44 percent. Prices of petrol and diesel went up by 1.72 percent and 1.45 percent, respectively. Other items showing an increase included garlic, onions, chilies powder, mutton, beef, curd, vegetable ghee, and cigarettes.
Meanwhile, some commodities recorded price drops. Chicken fell by 7.96 percent, while bananas, pulse gram, gur, potatoes, LPG, eggs, cooking oil, and pulse moong also saw slight decreases.
On an annual basis, certain commodities showed notable declines. Onion prices dropped 44.93 percent, chicken 31.08 percent, and garlic 28.69 percent. Reductions were also recorded in electricity charges, various pulses, tea, potatoes, and LPG.
However, the yearly comparison also revealed sharp price hikes in some goods. Tomatoes rose 89.81 percent, ladies’ sandals 55.62 percent, and sugar 33.73 percent. Increases were also observed in gas charges, wheat flour, beef, diesel, gur, firewood, and vegetable ghee.
The PBS data indicates that while some essential items became cheaper, overall weekly inflation remains under pressure due to fuel and food price increases.
In other news read more about: Weekly Inflation in Pakistan Rises by 0.73%, Says PBS
