The Federal Bureau of Statistics reported that inflation in Pakistan increased by 0.17% last week, bringing the annual inflation rate to 20.09%.

The prices of 19 essential commodities saw significant increases, affecting the cost of living for many households, according to the bureau.

According to the bureau, key items such as chicken, garlic, daal channa, eggs, meat, milk, firewood, and cigarettes experienced price hikes. In contrast, the prices of eight items, including tomatoes, onions, wheat flour, potatoes, daal masoor, and LPG, saw a decrease.

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The data highlights notable annual price increases for several essential commodities:

- Onions: Up by 96%
- Daal channa: Up by 40%
- Dry milk: Up by 39%
- Garlic: Up by 35%
- Moong daal: Up by 29%
- Beef: Up by 24%
- Salt: Up by 23%
- Maash daal: Up by 22%

One of the most striking increases was in gas charges, which rose by an astonishing 570% over the past year, significantly impacting household budgets.

While many items saw price increases, there were also some notable decreases. Wheat flour became 32% cheaper, cooking oil dropped by 13.44%, ghee decreased by 10.42%, and eggs saw a 5.82% price reduction. Additionally, basmati rice, tea, and mustard oil also became cheaper.

The Federal Bureau of Statistics' latest data underscores the volatile nature of commodity prices in Pakistan, with significant fluctuations impacting both consumers and the overall economy.