In Pakistan, inflation recorded a slight week-over-week increase, with the national Sensitive Price Index (SPI) rising by 0.12% for the week under review.
According to the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the overall annual SPI inflation rate was 3.20%. During the week, prices of 21 essential items increased, while prices of 8 items decreased.
Items that saw notable price increases include:
- Wheat flour: +5.07%
- Chicken: +2.86%
- Garlic: +2.44%
- Chili powder: +1.01%
- Prepared tea: +0.73%
- Sugar: +0.58%
- Basmati rice: +0.14%
Items that became more affordable during the same period:
- Potatoes: -3.73%
- Onions: -2.20%
- Split chickpeas (Chana dal): -1.51%
- Eggs: -1.44%
- Split mung beans (Mash dal): -0.65%
- Bananas: -0.21%
- Tomatoes: -0.05%
The SPI is calculated using prices of 51 essential items collected from 50 markets across 17 cities in Pakistan. This weekly indicator is closely monitored as a near-real-time measure of inflation trends affecting household budgets, particularly for middle- and lower-income groups.
Read: Bloomberg Sees Inflation Falling, Policy Stability Strengthening Pakistan Economy
The mixed price movement, with sharp increases in staples such as wheat flour and chicken and declines in vegetables and pulses, highlights ongoing supply-and-demand fluctuations, seasonal factors, and market dynamics that affect food inflation. Such data is critical for policymakers, economists, and the public to understand short-term changes in the cost of living.
