Weekly inflation dips by 1.92pc; prices of 18 essential items drop

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s inflation eased further on a weekly basis, with the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) showing a 1.92 per cent decline, bringing the annualised rate down to -3.52 per cent, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported on Friday.

According to the PBS, prices of 18 essential items dropped during the week, while 22 items remained stable. This marks another week of relief for consumers amid falling food and utility prices.

Among the notable declines, broiler chicken prices fell by 11.75pc, wheat flour by 5.68pc, garlic by 4.66pc, bananas by 3.51pc, and onions by 1.93pc. Other commodities that saw a decrease included mustard oil, tomatoes, electricity, and LPG.

However, the report noted that prices of 11 items increased during the week. Potatoes rose by 6.94pc, eggs by 0.66pc, and salt by 0.51pc. Gur (jaggery), yogurt, lentils (masoor and chana), cigarettes, and some clothing items also saw price hikes.

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In a separate monthly report, PBS revealed that inflation in March 2025 rose by just 0.69pc — one of the lowest monthly increases in three decades. The average inflation rate from July 2024 to March 2025 stood at 5.25pc, with February’s annual inflation recorded at 1.52pc.

The Ministry of Finance, in its latest Monthly Economic Update and Outlook, projected inflation for April to stay between 1.5pc and 2pc, but warned that it could rise to between 3pc and 4pc in May.

Despite these projections, the current trends suggest easing price pressure in the short term, offering temporary relief to consumers battered by high costs in previous months.