Pakistan recorded a slight uptick in weekly inflation, rising by 0.12 percent, after registering declines for two consecutive weeks, according to the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). On a year-on-year basis, inflation stood at 3.20 percent, reflecting a relatively moderate pace compared to recent months.
The PBS data, based on the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), showed mixed price movements across essential commodities during the week. Prices of 21 items increased, eight items became cheaper, while rates of 22 essential goods remained unchanged, indicating uneven inflationary pressures across the consumption basket.
Among the commodities that provided some relief to consumers, prices of vegetables and pulses recorded modest declines. Eggs became cheaper by 1.44 percent, onions by 2.20 percent, and potatoes by 3.73 percent, while tomato prices slipped marginally by 0.05 percent. Banana prices eased by 0.21 percent. In the pulses category, chickpeas fell by 1.51 percent, red lentils by 0.38 percent, and black gram by 0.65 percent.
However, this relief was partly offset by notable increases in staple food items and household necessities. Wheat flour registered a sharp weekly increase of 5.07 percent, while chicken prices rose by 2.86 percent. Red chilli powder went up by 1.01 percent and garlic by 2.44 percent. Prices of tea increased by 0.73 percent, sugar by 0.58 percent, and bread by 0.51 percent. Energy-related costs also edged higher, with liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices rising by 0.88 percent, while firewood became costlier by 0.25 percent. Broken basmati rice recorded a weekly increase of 0.41 percent.
The report also highlighted inflation trends across different income groups, showing that price pressures were felt broadly across all segments of society. Households earning up to Rs17,732 per month experienced a 0.12 percent increase in weekly inflation, with their annual inflation rate standing at 2.45 percent. Those in the income bracket of Rs17,733 to Rs22,888 saw weekly inflation rise by 0.13 percent, while their annual inflation reached 3.65 percent.
Similarly, households earning between Rs22,889 and Rs29,517 recorded a 0.13 percent weekly increase, with annual inflation at 3.43 percent. For families earning between Rs29,518 and Rs44,175, weekly inflation also rose by 0.13 percent, while annual inflation stood at 3.08 percent. The highest-income group, earning above Rs44,176 per month, experienced a relatively lower weekly increase of 0.11 percent, with annual inflation measured at 2.58 percent.
