Pakistan’s short-term inflation rises by 0.8%

Pakistan's short-term inflation rose by 0.8%, marking the highest weekly increase since July 4, 2024, according to the Bureau of Statistics.

The Sensitive Price Index (SPI) for the week ending December 26, 2024, showed a 5.08% rise compared to the same week last year.

Significant price hikes were observed in several essential items, including chicken (up 22.47%), tomatoes (20.75%), sugar (2.19%), vegetable ghee 1 kg (1.17%), firewood (0.95%), vegetable ghee 2.5 kg (0.91%), cooking oil 5 liters (0.74%), and LPG (0.18%).

Conversely, notable price drops were recorded for onions (down 8.13%), potatoes (2.38%), pulse mash (1.28%), pulse gram (0.78%), bananas (0.68%), rice IRRI (0.50%), eggs (0.30%), and rice basmati broken (0.15%).

The SPI index monitors the prices of 51 essential items across 50 markets in 17 cities, providing a comprehensive assessment of living costs in shorter intervals.

Analysts say if global commodity and energy prices stay low and the Pakistani Rupee remains stable, it will support further disinflation.

While the broader economic stability has been achieved, maintaining fiscal discipline and implementing structural reforms are essential for sustainable economic growth.