The Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation general increased by 5.1% on year-on-year basis in September 2018 as compared to an increase of 5.8% in the previous month and 3.9% in September 2017, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Monday. The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) said inflation is inching up, particularly from March 2018 onwards. The jump is even more pronounced in core inflation- a key measure reflecting the underlying inflationary pressures in the economy. For FY19, SBP’s inflation projections show that the average headline inflation is expected to fall in the revised forecast range of 6.5-7.5 percent. This assessment takes stock of the following factors: a higher than anticipated increase in international oil prices; an upward revision in domestic gas prices; a further increase in regulatory duties on imports; and the continuing second round impact of previous exchange rate depreciations. On month-on-month basis, it decreased by 0.1% in September 2018 as compared to an increase of 0.2% in the previous month and increase of 0.6% in September 2017. Core inflation measured by non-food non-energy CPI (Core NFNE) increased by 8.0% on (YoY) basis in September 2018 as compared to an increase of 7.7% in the previous month and 5.4% in September 2017. On (MoM) basis, it increased by 0.4% in September 2018 as compared to increase of 0.2% in previous month, and an increase of 0.1% in corresponding month of last year i.e. September 2017. Core inflation, measured by 20% weighted trimmed mean CPI (Core Trimmed) increased by 5.8% on (YoY) basis in September 2018 as compared to 5.9% in the previous month and by 4.1% in September 2017. On (MoM) basis, it increased by 0.1% in September 2018 as compared to an increase of 0.2% in the previous month and an increase of 0.1% in corresponding month of last year i.e. September 2017. Sensitive Price Index (SPI) inflation on YoY increased by 1.0% in September 2018 as compared to an increase of 3.3% a month earlier and an increase of 1.9% in September 2017. On MoM basis, it decreased by 0.1% in September 2018 as compared to an increase of 0.2% a month earlier and an increase of 2.1% in September 2017. Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation on YoY basis increased by 9.2% in September 2018 as compared to an increase of 11.0% a month earlier and an increase of 1.6% in September 2017. WPI inflation on MoM basis decreased by 1.5% in September 2018 as compared to an increase of 0.8% a month earlier and an increase of 0.1% in corresponding month of last year i.e. September 2017. Published in Daily Times, October 2nd 2018.