Pakistan’s Weekly SPI Inflation Climbs 4.34%

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s short-term inflation, tracked by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), climbed 4.34% year-on-year for the week ending October 9, 2025, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). On a weekly basis, the SPI edged up by 0.17%.

PBS data revealed that, among 51 commodities monitored across 50 markets in 17 cities, prices increased for 21 essential items, decreased for 6, and remained stable for 24. Significant price hikes were observed in chicken (8.92%), onions (7.47%), and wheat flour (5.74%), while tomatoes dropped sharply by 11.34%, followed by bananas (1.29%) and potatoes (0.93%). Other items with weekly increases included eggs (2.25%), gur (1.70%), garlic (0.86%), vegetable ghee (up to 0.86%), firewood (0.50%), and washing soap (0.23%). Additional declines were noted in LPG (0.59%), pulse gram (0.35%), and mustard oil (0.07%).

Across income groups, the SPI rose between 0.14% and 0.20%, with upper-middle-income households experiencing the highest weekly increase.

On an annual basis, the SPI underscored persistent inflationary pressures driven by food and energy costs. Sharp yearly increases were recorded in tomatoes (109.82%), ladies’ sandals (55.62%), sugar (36.08%), and gas charges for the lowest slab (29.85%). Other notable rises included wheat flour (17.70%), pulse moong (15.90%), gur (13.79%), beef (12.66%), diesel (12.57%), and vegetable ghee (up to 11.86%). Conversely, annual declines were seen in onions (43.16%), garlic (28.16%), electricity charges for Q1 (26.26%), pulse gram (24.97%), chicken (24.30%), potatoes (18.51%), pulse mash (18.17%), and tea (17.93%).

PBS data indicated that while inflation has moderated compared to last year, food price volatility remains a challenge. Officials noted that seasonal changes and adjustments in fuel and energy tariffs could influence inflation trends in the coming weeks.