Pakistan’s short-term inflation increased by 0.49% during the week ended September 17, 2026, mainly due to higher fuel and food prices, according to the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) rose 10.64% year-on-year during the week. Diesel prices increased by 7.29%, while petrol prices rose 6.40%. LPG prices also went up by 3.26%, contributing significantly to the weekly increase.
Food prices also recorded increases during the week. Garlic prices rose 1.94%, eggs by 1.72%, and pulse gram by 0.80%. Plain bread prices increased 0.74%, while pulse masoor and mustard oil recorded smaller increases.
However, prices of several essential items declined. Banana prices fell 6.17%, followed by tomatoes at 5.66% and onions at 4.57%. Chicken prices decreased by 2.33%, while powdered milk, wheat flour, IRRI-6/9 rice and sugar also recorded declines.
The PBS monitored prices of 51 essential commodities across 50 markets in 17 cities. Prices increased for 19 items, representing 37.25% of the basket, while nine items, or 17.65%, became cheaper. Prices of the remaining 23 items remained unchanged.
On a year-on-year basis, onions recorded the largest increase, with prices rising 117.77%. LPG prices increased 60.42%, while diesel and petrol prices rose 54.21% and 48%, respectively.
Electricity prices for the first quarter increased 33.54% year-on-year, while wheat flour prices rose 33.27%. Other items recording annual increases included powdered chilies, mutton, beef, bananas, plain bread and fresh milk.
Meanwhile, potato prices declined 35.31% year-on-year, while sugar prices fell 20.95%. Egg prices decreased 19.31%, chicken prices dropped 15.26%, and salt powder declined 13.96%.
The average price of a 50kg bag of Sona Urea stood at Rs. 4,699, down 0.04% from the previous week but 6.94% higher than a year earlier. The average price of a 50kg bag of cement reached Rs. 1,550, up 0.28% week-on-week and 10.29% year-on-year.
The SPI is used to monitor short-term price movements in essential commodities and provides policymakers with a near-real-time measure of inflationary trends.
