The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported a 0.64% decline in weekly inflation last week, while the annual inflation rate remained at 4%.
According to the PBS, prices of 13 essential items increased during the week, while 15 items became cheaper and 23 remained stable. Items that saw a rise included cooking oil, garlic, eggs, bread, ghee, dry milk, wheat flour, LPG, and cigarettes.
On the other hand, prices of tomatoes, onions, potatoes, chicken, sugar, chickpeas, jaggery, diesel, and petrol fell. Tomatoes recorded the steepest drop at 30%, followed by onions at 12.41% and potatoes at 6.92%. The price of live broiler chicken decreased by 4.46%, while eggs increased by 2.84 rupees per dozen, with the average price reaching 354 rupees.
Domestic LPG cylinders became Rs118 more expensive last week, with the highest recorded price at Rs3, 850.
On an annual basis, sugar prices surged 37.49%, wheat flour 17.5%, jaggery 15%, beef 13.47%, dry milk 9%, and cooking oil 8.19%. Gas charges rose up to 30%, firewood 12.59%, diesel 8.42%, and clothing prices by over 8%. Electricity charges for small consumers, however, decreased by 8.4% over the year.
Other items that became cheaper included potatoes, garlic, tomatoes, onions, chickpeas, tea, mash beans, and salt.
The PBS data shows a mixed trend in Pakistan’s commodity prices, with some essentials becoming more affordable while others continue to see price pressures.
