Inflation continues to climb: prices of 24 essential items surge this week

Islamabad: Inflation continues to rise in Pakistan, with a 0.55 per cent increase recorded during the past week and a 4.16 per cent rise on an annual basis, according to a report of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). 

The weekly inflation report, released on Friday, highlighted price changes in essential commodities. Prices of 24 items increased, six items became cheaper, and 21 items remained unchanged. 

The report noted significant price hikes in potatoes (1.26%), eggs (5.01%), tomatoes (16.86 per cent), LPG (4.10 per cent), mustard oil (1.90 per cent), garlic (4.30 per cent), firewood (2.07 per cent), sugar (1.34 per cent), and ghee (1.87 per cent). On the other hand, prices of bananas dropped by 0.18 per cent, gram lentils by 2.51 per cent, mash lentils by 0.87 per cent, chicken by 0.07 per cent, and wheat flour by 0.01 per cent. 

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The report also provided an analysis of inflation’s impact across different income groups. Households earning up to Rs17,732 per month experienced a 0.83 per cent weekly increase, with an annual inflation rate of 2.33 per cent. For those earning between Rs17,733 and Rs22,888 per month, inflation rose by 0.74 per cent, reaching an annual rate of 2.47 per cent. Households with incomes ranging from PKR 22,889 to Rs29,517 per month saw a 0.62 per cent weekly rise, with inflation hitting 4.07 per cent annually. 

For households earning between Rs29,518 and Rs44,175 per month, inflation increased by 0.59 per cent, bringing the annual rate to 4.19 per cent. Those earning above PKR 44,176 per month experienced a 0.44 per cent weekly rise, with annual inflation reaching 4.75 per cent. 

The data underscored the persistent pressure on households across income brackets as essential commodity prices continue to climb.