Pakistan Weekly Inflation Up 1.03% May 15

Pakistan’s short-term inflation, tracked via the Sensitive Price Index, surged by 1.03% for the week ended May 15, 2025, compared to the previous week, with a year-on-year rise of 1.29%, indicating persistent price pressures, as reported by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on May 16, 2025. Among 51 essential items, 18 (35.29%) saw price increases, 12 (23.53%) experienced declines, and 21 (41.18%) remained stable, reflecting a mixed inflationary trend.

Significant weekly increases hit chicken (15.95%), eggs (8.34%), sugar (1.97%), long cloth (1.74%), powdered milk (1.59%), gur (1.48%), and pulse gram (0.94%), while tomatoes (-5.20%), garlic (-3.45%), onions (-2.57%), and potatoes (-1.93%) saw notable declines. Year-on-year, ladies’ sandals (55.62%), chicken (47.22%), moong pulse (29.02%), and sugar (21.87%) recorded the sharpest increases, but onions (-53.29%), garlic (-33.18%), and potatoes (-29.84%) offered relief with steep drops. Income-wise, the lowest income group faced a 0.92% weekly rise, while the highest income group saw 1.03%, with yearly increases of 0.42% and 2.23%, respectively.

The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics compiles the Sensitive Price Index from 50 markets across 17 cities, a key tool for monitoring price volatility. Web context highlights persistent inflation concerns, while posts found on X reflect public frustration over rising chicken and milk prices. Critically, the narrative of “modest pressure” may downplay disparities—web sources note low-income strain, and X sentiment questions government response, suggesting broader economic challenges.