The Sensitive Price Indicator, which measures weekly inflation, increased by 0.37 percent for the combined consumption group. The index reached 335.09 points compared with 333.86 points in the previous week, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.
On a yearly basis, inflation measured through the SPI showed an increase of 4.70 percent. The indicator tracks price movements of 51 essential items in 17 major urban centres of the country. It covers all consumer spending groups to show how prices are changing for ordinary households.
For the lowest income group with monthly spending up to Rs17,732, the SPI remained unchanged at 323.48 points. However, inflation increased slightly for other income groups.
The SPI for consumption groups between Rs17,733 and Rs22,888 rose by 0.09 percent. For groups spending between Rs22,889 and Rs29,517, it increased by 0.16 percent. For the Rs29,518 to Rs44,175 group, the index climbed by 0.26 percent, while the group spending above Rs44,175 recorded the highest increase of 0.53 percent.
During the week, prices of 13 essential items increased, while 11 items became cheaper and 27 items remained unchanged.
Among the items that became more expensive, chicken recorded the highest jump with a 10.46 percent increase. LPG prices rose by 5.61 percent, while bananas increased by 3.85 percent. Petrol prices also went up by 3.06 percent and diesel by 1.84 percent.
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Other items that saw price increases included garlic, beef, mutton, pulse mash, lawn printed cloth, gur and mustard oil. These increases added further pressure on consumers already struggling with daily expenses.
Meanwhile, some food items became cheaper during the week. Tomato prices dropped by 10.04 percent, eggs by 8.13 percent, onions by 6.08 percent and potatoes by 5.09 percent. Wheat flour, pulse gram, pulse moong and cooking oil 5 litre also recorded small declines.
On a yearly basis, several essential items have become significantly more expensive. Gas charges for the first consumption slab increased by 29.85 percent. Wheat flour rose by 26.13 percent, while electricity charges for the first slab increased by 17.33 percent. LPG prices also climbed by 16.89 percent during the year.
Other notable annual increases were recorded in chili powder, beef, firewood, powdered milk, mutton, tomatoes, gur and rice basmati broken.
However, some items showed major price drops compared with last year. Potatoes fell by 53.76 percent, onions by 26.10 percent and eggs by 24.93 percent. Garlic, chicken, pulse gram, salt powder and pulse masoor also recorded significant yearly declines.
The data shows that food and fuel prices are still changing quickly. Even small increases can affect families with limited income. If fuel and food keep rising, household budgets may face more pressure in the coming weeks.
