Pakistan’s annual inflation eases to 11.1pc in June, says PBS

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s annual inflation eased to 11.1 per cent in June from 11.7 per cent in May, while prices declined 0.3pc on a month-on-month basis, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Wednesday.

The latest figures showed that inflation remained elevated despite a slight moderation, with price trends varying sharply across different categories. While food staples such as tomatoes, onions and flour recorded notable increases, consumers received some relief from lower prices of chicken, eggs and petroleum products.

Urban, rural inflation trends

According to the PBS, annual inflation in urban areas stood at 11.2pc, while prices fell 0.5pc on a monthly basis. Rural inflation was recorded at 10.9pc year-on-year.

The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), which tracks the prices of essential commodities, registered a 12.8pc increase compared with the same period last year.

On a monthly basis, tomato prices surged 90pc, onions rose 21pc and potatoes climbed 18pc. Prices of fresh vegetables increased by 12.5pc, while flour and ghee became 2.2pc and 1.9pc more expensive, respectively.

However, chicken prices fell 22pc during the month, while eggs became nearly 11pc cheaper. Consumers also benefited from a 12pc decline in petroleum product prices and a 4.3pc reduction in electricity bills.

Food, energy prices remain under pressure

Despite the monthly easing, annual price increases remained pronounced across several essential goods and services.

The PBS said wheat prices were 65pc higher than a year earlier, while flour prices had increased by 55pc. Tomato prices rose 52pc year-on-year, while onions were 60pc more expensive.

Prices of meat, dairy products and bakery items also posted significant annual increases. In contrast, potatoes were 40pc cheaper than a year ago, eggs declined 33pc and sugar prices fell 16pc.

Meanwhile, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices rose by more than 60pc on an annual basis. Transport costs, petrol, electricity and gas tariffs also recorded significant year-on-year increases, underscoring the continued pressure on household budgets despite the moderation in headline inflation.