The weekly inflation rate rose 0.23% during the week ending Sept. 10, pushing the annualized weekly inflation rate to 8.62%, according to data released on Friday by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The Sensitive Price Indicator, which tracks prices of essential commodities on a weekly basis, showed that prices of 14 items increased during the week, while 10 items became cheaper.
Petrol prices increased 6.18% on a weekly basis, while diesel prices rose 5.49%, the data shows. Liquefied petroleum gas prices also climbed 4.32% during the week, while the price of gram lentils, or mash dal, increased 0.79%. Washing soap became 0.49% more expensive.
Food prices showed a mixed trend during the week.
Banana prices fell 7.73%, while tomatoes became 5.24% cheaper. Chicken prices declined 4.22%, while onions and potatoes fell 3.72% and 1.88%, respectively. Despite the weekly decline, onion prices remained significantly higher than a year earlier, rising 125.52% on an annual basis.
Annual inflation
On a year-on-year basis, LPG prices surged 55.42%, while diesel became 45.26% more expensive and petrol prices increased 39.10%. Wheat flour prices rose 30.18% over the year, while electricity costs increased 25.24%, according to the data.
Among major food items, potato prices declined 35.21% and chicken became 24.30% cheaper on an annual basis. Sugar prices also fell 20.88% compared with the same period last year.
The latest weekly inflation data highlights continued pressure from energy prices, despite declines in several food commodities.