Pakistan’s short-term inflation recorded another rise in the latest weekly data, with the Sensitive Price Indicator showing an increase of 0.79 percent for the week ending May 07, 2026, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
The Sensitive Price Indicator tracks the movement of 51 essential commodities across 50 markets in 17 cities. It is updated weekly and is closely watched as a quick measure of inflation trends, helping assess changes in essential living costs in near real time.
The latest figures show that pressure mainly came from food items and fuel costs, which continued to affect household budgets.
Chicken prices saw the sharpest jump during the week, rising by 12.82 percent. Diesel went up by 5.10 percent, while wheat flour increased by 3.42 percent. Petrol also moved higher by 1.66 percent.
Other items that became costlier included fresh milk, curd, beef, mutton, tea, potatoes, washing soap and cigarettes, though most of these rose at a slower pace.
Some relief in vegetable prices
Not all items moved upward. Prices of tomatoes dropped by 7.08 percent, offering some relief in kitchen costs. Garlic, eggs, LPG, pulses, onions, rice and gur also saw small declines over the week.
Out of 51 monitored items, 22 became more expensive, 14 became cheaper, while 15 remained unchanged. This shows a mixed trend in weekly inflation pressures.
Annual inflation stays elevated
On a yearly basis, inflation measured through the SPI rose by 15.16 percent, showing continued pressure compared to last year.
Fuel and energy costs remained major drivers. Petrol prices surged by 58.32 percent year-on-year, while diesel increased by 55.76 percent. Electricity charges for Q1 rose by 52.58 percent, and wheat flour climbed by 50.65 percent.
Other items such as LPG, onions, mutton, spices and milk also recorded notable annual increases. However, some essentials including potatoes, pulses, sugar, eggs and chicken saw declines compared to last year.
Fertiliser and cement prices also tracked
The average price of Sona Urea stood at Rs4,597 per 50 kg bag, marking a rise of 0.59 percent over the previous week and 2.63 percent higher than last year.
Cement prices averaged Rs1,531 per 50 kg bag, slightly lower by 0.09 percent week-on-week, but still up 7.9 percent compared to the same period last year.
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