The SPI increased to 334.39 points from 332.75 points in the previous week, showing a steady price hike trend.
On a yearly basis, the SPI registered a rise of 4.57% compared to the same week last year. The indicator, which tracks price changes in 51 essential items across 17 urban centers, continues to reflect the pressure on consumers.
The lowest income group, earning up to Rs17,732 per month, faced the biggest impact, with inflation climbing by 1.07% to reach 329.37 points compared to last week’s 325.88 points. Similarly, prices for other consumption groups also increased—by 0.92%, 0.71%, 0.59%, and 0.29% respectively for higher-income brackets.
Out of 51 monitored items, 24 saw price hikes, 8 declined, and 19 remained unchanged. Major weekly increases were noted in tomatoes (33.20%), onions (8.70%), eggs (2.18%), wheat flour (1.42%), garlic (0.85%), potatoes (0.71%), and vegetable ghee.
Conversely, prices of chicken dropped by 6.38%, bananas by 4.70%, and petrol by 2.09%, offering slight relief to consumers.
On a year-on-year basis, tomatoes led the inflation chart with a staggering 121.38% surge, followed by ladies sandals (55.62%), sugar (36.94%), gas charges (29.85%), and wheat flour (16.92%). Meanwhile, items like onions, chicken, and garlic recorded sharp declines in average prices.
Read more: Gold jumps by Rs14,100 in a single day in unstoppable surge
The latest SPI report indicates that Pakistan’s inflationary pressures remain far from easing. Despite falling fuel prices, essential food items continue to rise, keeping household budgets strained. Experts believe unstable supply chains, high transportation costs, and weak purchasing power are deepening the crisis. For many families, each passing week brings another wave of small but painful price hikes.
