Pakistan’s weekly inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), edged up by 0.05% during the week ending August 7, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Friday. The SPI rose from 327.94 points to 328.12 points, showing a slight increase in prices across the country.
Year-on-year, the SPI showed a 1.73% increase compared to the same week last year. This rise reflects growing food prices and other essential items, impacting households with different income levels differently, especially lower consumption groups.
For the lowest consumption group, with monthly spending up to Rs 17,732, the SPI increased by 0.30%, moving from 316.01 to 316.97 points. Other consumption groups also saw increases, though the highest group with income above Rs 44,175 recorded a slight 0.06% decrease in SPI.
Out of 51 items measured, prices of 12 items rose, including onions (16.53%), tomatoes (10.17%), chicken (4.12%), and eggs (1.32%). Meanwhile, prices of 12 items decreased, such as LPG (3.21%), petrol (2.75%), and bananas (1.56%), while 27 items remained stable.
On a yearly basis, some goods saw sharp price increases, including ladies’ sandals (55.62%), gas charges (29.85%), and sugar (21.75%). Conversely, onions fell by 55.34%, garlic by 26.43%, and wheat flour by 22.01% compared to last year.
Overall, the report highlights ongoing fluctuations in Pakistan’s inflation, driven mainly by food prices and fuel costs. These changes continue to affect different segments of the population, especially those with lower income.