Pakistan’s weekly inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), recorded a decline of 0.59% during the past week, offering slight relief to consumers amid ongoing economic pressures.
According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the decrease was mainly driven by reduced prices of essential food items, including onions, tomatoes, potatoes, and chicken. Meanwhile, slight increases were noted in the prices of some non-food commodities.
The SPI — which tracks the prices of 51 essential items for various income groups — showed that inflation for the lowest-income segment also dropped compared to the previous week. However, on a year-on-year basis, inflation still remains elevated due to persistent increases in fuel, electricity, and transport costs.
Economists attribute the weekly decline to seasonal factors and better supply management of perishable goods in major urban markets. They note, however, that the overall inflation outlook remains uncertain, especially with fluctuating global oil prices and domestic energy tariff adjustments.
The government has stated that it is closely monitoring commodity prices to ensure stability and prevent artificial shortages. Officials from the Finance Division emphasized that continued administrative actions and improved agricultural supply chains are essential to maintain this downward trend.
Despite the weekly dip, analysts warn that core inflation — which excludes volatile food and energy prices — remains a concern, signaling underlying pressure on household budgets.
The PBS report added that 23 items showed a price decrease, 10 items became more expensive, and 18 remained stable during the review week.
Read More : Weekly Inflation Shows Slight Decline in Pakistan
