The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) has reported that weekly inflation, measured through the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), increased by 0.56 percent for the combined consumption group during the week ending on October 2. The SPI rose to 332.17 points from last week’s 330.32 points, reflecting mounting price pressures on households.
Compared to the same week last year, inflation recorded a 4.07 percent rise, underlining persistent challenges in controlling price hikes. The SPI, which tracks 51 essential items across 17 urban centers, is a key measure of short-term inflation trends for different expenditure groups.
For the lowest income group, with expenditures up to Rs17,732, inflation was higher at 0.82 percent, with the SPI climbing from 322.77 to 325.43 points. Other expenditure groups also experienced price increases: 0.76 percent for Rs17,733–22,888, 0.61 percent for Rs22,889–29,517, 0.57 percent for Rs29,518–44,175, and 0.49 percent for those above Rs44,175.
During the week, prices of 19 items (37.25%) increased, 12 items (23.53%) decreased, while 20 items (39.22%) remained unchanged.
Notable weekly decreases were seen in chicken (7.96%), bananas (0.78%), pulse gram (0.67%), gur (0.59%), potatoes (0.43%), LPG (0.42%), eggs (0.41%), cooking oil (0.30%), and pulse moong (0.29%).
On the other hand, sharp increases were observed in tomatoes (46.44%), followed by petrol (1.72%), diesel (1.45%), garlic (1.41%), onions (1.22%), chilies powder (0.72%), mutton (0.59%), beef (0.41%), and curd (0.19%). Prices of items such as vegetable ghee, lawn fabric, and cigarettes also saw minor increases.
On a year-on-year basis, some essential items showed relief, with major declines recorded in onions (44.93%), chicken (31.08%), garlic (28.69%), electricity charges for Q1 (26.26%), and various pulses. However, items such as tomatoes (89.81%), ladies’ sandals (55.62%), sugar (33.73%), gas charges (29.85%), wheat flour (13.37%), diesel (12.57%), and beef (12.48%) surged significantly, contributing to the overall inflationary trend.
The data reflects the ongoing volatility in essential food and energy markets, highlighting the financial strain on consumers, particularly low-income households, who remain more vulnerable to such price hikes.