November CPI Jumps to 6.5–7% on Food & Electricity Surge

ISLAMABAD: Consumer inflation is set to climb back in November 2025, with Topline Research forecasting 6.5–7.0% YoY (vs 6.25% in Oct & 4.86% last Nov) and +0.8% MoM. Food prices are the main culprit, jumping 1.52% MoM thanks to flood havoc and Afghan border closure — onions +59%, chicken +16%, meat +15%, veg +12%; only tomatoes crashed -56%. Electricity charges spiked 2.83% after the negative QTA vanished, pushing housing & utilities up 0.79% MoM. Transport flat (-0.05%) as petrol -1% offset diesel +0.8%. Real interest rates to stay sky-high at 400–450 bps — double the historical norm. Topline warns: global commodity swings remain the biggest threat ahead.