Islamabad: Pakistan witnessed a slight decline in weekly inflation, with the overall rate decreasing by 0.56%, according to the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Despite the marginal drop, prices of several essential commodities continued to fluctuate across the country.
The statistics show that the annual inflation rate currently stands at 14.75%, reflecting ongoing pressure on household budgets. During the past week, prices of 22 essential items increased, while 10 items became cheaper and 19 remained stable.
Among the key price changes, onions saw a sharp increase of 28.16%, while potatoes became 21.91% more expensive. These increases have added further strain on household food expenses, particularly for low- and middle-income families.
Prices of staple food items such as wheat flour, ghee, cooking oil, fresh milk, and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) also recorded an upward trend during the week. These essential goods are widely consumed across households, making their price fluctuations particularly impactful.
On the other hand, some relief was observed in poultry and garlic prices, with chicken becoming 9.48% cheaper and garlic declining by 9.13%. These reductions provided partial relief to consumers amid overall inflationary pressure.
Fuel prices also showed a downward trend, with diesel decreasing by 7.01% and petrol falling by 6.80% during the week. This decline in energy costs is expected to slightly ease transportation and logistics expenses in the short term.
Economic analysts suggest that while the weekly dip in inflation is a positive sign, the continued volatility in essential food items highlights persistent challenges in price stability.
