Pakistan’s weekly inflation inched higher, with prices of essential goods showing mixed trends across markets, according to fresh data.
The Sensitive Price Indicator rose by 0.21 percent in the week ending March 18, 2026, figures released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics showed. The index tracks the cost of 51 key items in 50 markets across 17 cities and offers a snapshot of price changes faced by households.
Tomatoes recorded the biggest jump during the week, climbing nearly 25 percent. Prices of live broiler chicken also moved up by over 7 percent, adding to pressure on kitchen budgets. Bread, cooked daal, mustard oil and cigarettes posted smaller increases, while energy savers also became slightly more expensive.
Among non-food items, firewood and georgette fabric saw modest rises.
However, some relief came from a fall in several essential items. Garlic prices dropped by almost 5 percent, while LPG cylinders became cheaper by around 2.7 percent. Onions and wheat flour also eased, with the latter offering some comfort to households that rely heavily on it. Sugar, gur, bananas and pulse masoor registered slight declines.
Out of the 51 items tracked, prices of 18 increased, nine decreased and the rest remained unchanged.
Despite the mild weekly rise, the broader trend shows inflation continues to weigh on households. Energy costs have seen sharp increases over the past year. Diesel prices have jumped close to 30 percent, while petrol, gas and LPG have also recorded strong gains.
Food items have also grown costlier on an annual basis. Wheat flour, chilli powder, beef, powdered milk and mutton all posted noticeable increases compared to last year.
Still, some items have become significantly cheaper over the same period. Potato prices have dropped by more than half, while chicken, eggs, pulse gram and garlic have also seen notable declines.
The impact of inflation remains uneven across income groups. Lower and middle income households continue to feel the strain, with the second income bracket recording the highest annual increase.
The overall SPI index rose to 342.13, up from 341.42 a week earlier, reflecting continued pressure on household budgets.
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