Pakistan’s weekly inflation eased slightly in the week ending February 26, offering some relief to households facing high living costs.
Figures released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics show that the Sensitive Price Indicator fell by 0.54 percent compared with the previous week. The decline was largely driven by a sharp drop in the prices of key food items.
Tomatoes recorded the biggest fall, down nearly 30 percent in just one week. Potatoes dropped by more than 10 percent, while chicken prices fell by over 9 percent. Onions, eggs, wheat flour, bread and sugar also became cheaper.
For many families, these items form the base of daily meals. A fall in their prices can quickly ease pressure on the weekly budget, even if the relief is modest.
Some items still getting costlier
Despite the overall decline, several items saw price increases.
Bananas became almost 4.5 percent more expensive. Prices of clothing items such as shirting, long cloth and printed lawn also rose. Liquefied petroleum gas, widely used for cooking in many homes, went up by nearly 1 percent. Garlic, mutton, pulses and powdered milk also recorded small increases.
Out of 51 essential goods monitored during the week, prices of 13 items rose, 14 fell and 24 remained unchanged. This shows that while some relief was visible, the broader price picture remains mixed.
Annual inflation still higher
On a yearly basis, short-term inflation is still higher than last year. The SPI recorded a year-on-year increase of 4.23 percent.
Gas charges for the first quarter were nearly 30 percent higher than a year ago. Wheat flour prices rose by more than 29 percent, while electricity charges for the first quarter increased by over 17 percent. Tomatoes, chillies powder, LPG, bananas, beef, firewood and powdered milk were also significantly more expensive compared with the same week last year.
However, some food items are much cheaper than they were a year ago. Potato prices have fallen by more than 50 percent on an annual basis. Chicken, garlic and onions also saw sharp year-on-year declines. Pulses and eggs were likewise cheaper than last year.
How the SPI works
The Sensitive Price Indicator tracks the prices of 51 essential goods in 50 markets across 17 cities. It is compiled every week to give policymakers a quick view of price movements.
Because it is updated weekly, the SPI helps officials assess the situation in near real time. It also gives the public a snapshot of how the cost of everyday items is changing from one week to the next.
While this week’s data shows a slight dip in short-term inflation, the mixed trend suggests that price pressures have not fully eased. For many households, the impact will depend on which items make up most of their weekly spending.
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