Pakistan’s weekly inflation rose slightly this week, increasing by 0.24 percent compared to the previous week, while showing a 3.75 percent rise compared to the same period last year, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Friday.
According to the weekly SPI report, out of 51 essential items tracked, prices of 17 items went up, 14 items fell, and 20 remained stable.
Chicken saw the sharpest weekly increase at 11.11 percent, followed by chili powder (3.08%), eggs (2.88%), and shirting fabric (1.64%). Other items registering modest rises included firewood, cooking oil, mustard oil, energy saver bulbs, pulse moong, and beef.
On the other hand, the most significant declines were seen in tomatoes, which dropped by 11.38 percent, and potatoes, down 8.39 percent. Diesel prices fell 5 percent, while sugar, onions, pulse mash, garlic, salt powder, gur, and LPG also recorded decreases.
Year-on-year trends show sharper shifts
The year-on-year data highlight more pronounced changes. Gas charges for the first quarter surged by 29.85 percent, sugar rose 24.10 percent, and wheat flour climbed 22.52 percent. Meat prices also increased substantially, with chicken up 20.78 percent and beef 13.66 percent.
Other notable rises included gur, firewood, powdered milk, eggs, and popular fabrics like lawn printed and shirting. Bananas saw a 7.83 percent increase.
Conversely, prices of tomatoes and potatoes plunged by 66.49 percent and 45.31 percent, respectively. Garlic fell 39.10 percent, onions 29.77 percent, and pulses, tea, electricity charges, salt, and LPG also showed declines.
The weekly analysis by income quintiles showed the highest short-term inflation in the top quintile (Q5) at 0.28 percent, while the third (Q3) and fourth (Q4) quintiles experienced the largest year-on-year rises of 3.79 percent and 3.77 percent, respectively.
Fertiliser and cement prices
The average price of Sona urea was Rs4,298 per 50 kg bag, down 0.06 percent from last week and 5.7 percent lower than last year. Cement prices rose to Rs1,416 per 50 kg bag, marking a 0.59 percent weekly increase and a 0.28 percent rise compared to last year.
PBS calculates short-term inflation using the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), which tracks the price movement of 51 essential items across 50 markets in 17 cities. The weekly measure helps assess changes in living costs and provides early insights into trends in essential commodities.
