ISLAMABAD: Pakistan recorded a 0.57% week-on-week increase in inflation during the week ended October 8, with prices of several essential commodities rising, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), which tracks short-term price movements, increased by 0.57% compared with the preceding week, according to the latest PBS report.
Among the commodities that recorded price increases, flour became 5.69% more expensive, followed by chicken, which rose by 4.93%, and gram pulse (chickpeas), which increased by 3.99%. Petrol and tomatoes each recorded a 2.40% increase.
Prices of other essential items also rose during the week. Masoor pulse (red lentils) became 1.29% more expensive, prepared tea increased by 1.08%, cooked pulse by 0.98%, mash pulse (urad dal) by 0.91%, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) by 0.57%.
Prices of Six Items Decline
The report also recorded price decreases in several commodities. Bananas became 2.81% cheaper, while diesel prices fell by 1.37%. Potatoes declined by 0.89%, sugar by 0.37%, gur (unrefined sugar) by 0.19%, and moong pulse (mung beans) by 0.03%.
According to the PBS data, prices of 20 out of the 51 commodities included in the SPI basket increased during the week, while six recorded declines. Prices of the remaining 25 items remained unchanged.
Annual Inflation Rises by 11.97%
On a year-on-year basis, inflation measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator increased by 11.97%.
Among the commodities recording the highest annual price increases, onions became 100.24% more expensive, followed by LPG at 68.55%, first-quarter electricity tariffs at 58.59%, petrol at 47.52%, and diesel at 42.52%.
Flour prices rose by 32.60% year-on-year, while chilli powder increased by 15.55%, mutton by 15.02%, beef by 12.60%, and chicken by 9.44%. The price of plain bread increased by 8.99%, while yogurt became 8.08% more expensive.
However, some commodities recorded substantial annual price declines. Potato prices fell by 39.51%, tomatoes by 37.07%, sugar by 22.44%, and eggs by 18.88%.
Other items that became cheaper on a year-on-year basis included powdered salt, down 14.81%; masoor pulse, down 9.79%; gur, down 8.59%; and moong pulse, down 8.37%.
Inflationary Pressure Across All Income Groups
The PBS data showed that inflationary pressures persisted across all household income groups.
For households earning up to Rs17,732 per month, the SPI increased by 0.52% during the week. The index rose by 0.54% for households with monthly incomes ranging from Rs17,733 to Rs22,888.
Households earning between Rs22,889 and Rs29,517 per month recorded a 0.53% increase in the index, while the increase stood at 0.57% for those earning between Rs29,518 and Rs44,175.
The highest weekly increase, at 0.60%, was recorded among households with monthly incomes of Rs44,175 or more.
According to the report, the overall Sensitive Price Indicator rose from 370.40 points in the preceding week to 372.58 points during the week ended October 8, reflecting a continued increase in the cost of essential commodities.
