Prices of everyday essentials in Pakistan inched higher last week, with short-term inflation showing a mild but noticeable uptick, according to fresh data.
The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), which tracks the cost of basic household items on a weekly basis, rose by 0.16 percent for the week ending June 11, 2026, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported. The index monitors 51 essential goods across 50 markets in 17 cities, offering a quick snapshot of how inflation is shifting on the ground.
For many households already managing tight budgets, even small weekly changes in food and fuel prices can add pressure, especially when they accumulate over time.
This week’s increase was mainly driven by a sharp rise in tomato prices, which jumped 35.39 percent. LPG also became more expensive, rising 11.03 percent, adding to household energy costs. Small increases were also seen in potatoes, cigarettes, cooking oil, vegetable ghee, fresh milk, and basic food items such as gur and bread.
At the same time, some relief came from falling prices of key kitchen staples. Eggs dropped 9.62 percent, while chicken became 5.73 percent cheaper. Onion prices fell 4.61 percent, and petrol also recorded a decline of 1.04 percent. Garlic, pulses, wheat flour, bananas and mustard oil also saw slight reductions.
Out of the 51 items tracked during the week, prices of 12 items increased, 11 items declined, while more than half remained unchanged. This mixed pattern reflects ongoing volatility in food and energy markets, where gains in one category are often offset by relief in another.
On a broader scale, inflation pressures remain more visible. On a year-on-year basis, the SPI rose 15.06 percent, showing that essential goods are still significantly more expensive compared to last year.
Some of the steepest annual increases were recorded in onions, which surged 85.43 percent, followed by LPG at 74.45 percent. Wheat flour rose 59.62 percent, while electricity charges increased 59.40 percent. Fuel costs also remained elevated, with diesel up 49.63 percent and petrol up 49.03 percent. Prices of meat, spices and bread also showed steady increases over the year.
However, a few commodities provided some relief compared to last year. Potatoes were down 42.79 percent, eggs fell 34.17 percent, and sugar dropped 15.71 percent. Several pulses and salt also recorded declines, showing uneven trends across essential food categories.
Beyond household goods, input costs also showed mixed movement. The average price of Sona Urea rose slightly to Rs4,650 per 50 kg bag, up 0.26 percent from last week and 4.37 percent higher than last year. Cement prices, on the other hand, slipped 0.43 percent over the week to Rs1,510 per 50 kg bag, though they remain 7.08 percent higher than a year earlier.
Overall, the latest SPI figures point to a patchy inflation trend, where relief in some essentials is being offset by sharp spikes in others, keeping overall cost pressures alive for consumers.
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