Pakistan’s headline inflation surged to 11.1% in August 2026, more than tripling from 3.56% recorded in the same month last year, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The latest reading represents a 212% year-on-year increase in the inflation rate compared with August 2025. Inflation also accelerated from 9.2% in July 2026.
On a month-on-month basis, inflation increased by 1.2% in August, unchanged from July. In contrast, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) had declined by 0.6% month-on-month in August 2025.
Urban inflation climbed to 10.4% year-on-year in August from 8.7% in July and 3.5% in August 2025. On a monthly basis, urban inflation increased by 0.9%, compared with 1.2% in July.
Rural areas recorded a sharper increase, with inflation reaching 12.2% year-on-year in August, up from 9.9% in July and 2.5% a year earlier.
Rural inflation also rose 1.6% month-on-month in August, compared with 1.2% in July.
The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) increased 9.5% year-on-year in August, down from 12% in July but significantly above the 2.6% increase recorded in August 2025.
On a monthly basis, SPI rose 0.9% in August, compared with 2.4% in July.
Meanwhile, Wholesale Price Index (WPI) inflation climbed to 11.8% year-on-year in August from 9.4% in July. WPI had declined by 1% in August 2025.
On a month-on-month basis, WPI increased by 2% in August, after remaining unchanged in July.
Core inflation also remained high during the month. Urban non-food, non-energy inflation rose to 8.8% year-on-year in August from 8.6% in July.
Rural core inflation increased to 8.5% from 8.1% during the same period.
On a monthly basis, urban non-food, non-energy inflation increased 0.5%, while rural core inflation rose 0.6%.
Under the 20% weighted trimmed mean measure, urban core inflation climbed to 8.9% year-on-year in August from 7.5% in July. Rural core inflation also increased to 9.1% from 8%.
The latest figures highlight a sharp resurgence in inflationary pressures across Pakistan, with rural consumers experiencing a particularly stronger increase in prices.
