Inflation has resurged in Pakistan, with an increase in the prices of essential commodities over the past week.
According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics, the inflation rate accelerated again, marking an increase for the third consecutive week. The rate rose by 1.30% this week, following a 0.45% increase the previous week, pushing the annual inflation rate from 21.69% to 23.03%.
The Bureau’s weekly report on inflation revealed that the prices of 19 essential items have escalated. Notably, tomatoes saw a 27.14% price hike, chicken prices increased by 11.75%, and electricity rates increased by 8.73%. Additionally, gram lentils, mung lentils, eggs, beef, mutton, LPG, energy savers, and cigarettes recorded price increases of 7.19%, 1.07%, 3.70%, 1.52%, 0.60%, 6.14%, 0.36%, and 0.47% respectively.
Conversely, some items saw prices reduced, including onions (5%), red chilli powder (1.95%), broken Basmati rice (1.65%), garlic (1.32%), Kainat Basmati rice (1.08%), bread (0.52%), flour (0.05%), and sugar (0.02%).
This inflationary trend underscores the economic pressures facing households as they navigate the rising cost of living.