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Aftab Maken
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s short-term inflation, measured through the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), increased by 0.16 percent during the week ended June 11, 2026, mainly driven by sharp increases in tomato and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The weekly SPI, which tracks the prices of 51 essential commodities across 50 markets in 17 cities, showed that tomatoes recorded the steepest increase, rising by 35.39 percent over the previous week. LPG prices also posted a significant jump of 11.03 percent.
Other commodities that witnessed price increases included potatoes, which rose by 1.04 percent, cigarettes by 0.46 percent, vegetable ghee (2.5 kg) by 0.40 percent, cooking oil (5 litres) by 0.27 percent, vegetable ghee (1 kg) by 0.24 percent, and fresh milk by 0.21 percent. Prices of gur (jaggery) and bread also increased by 0.10 percent each.
Despite the overall rise in inflation, several essential food items recorded notable declines during the week. Egg prices fell by 9.62 percent, while chicken became cheaper by 5.73 percent. Onion prices dropped by 4.61 percent, followed by petrol at 1.04 percent and garlic at 0.98 percent. Prices of pulse mash, wheat flour, bananas and mustard oil also registered modest declines.
According to the PBS report, out of the 51 items monitored, prices of 12 commodities increased, 11 declined, while 28 remained unchanged during the review period.
On an annual basis, inflationary pressures remained significant, with the SPI showing a year-on-year increase of 15.06 percent. Among the major contributors to annual inflation were onions, whose prices surged by 85.43 percent compared to the same period last year. LPG prices increased by 74.45 percent, while wheat flour became 59.62 percent more expensive.
Electricity charges for the first consumption slab rose by 59.40 percent year-on-year, while diesel and petrol prices increased by 49.63 percent and 49.03 percent, respectively. Tomato prices were up by 36.40 percent, while meat products also recorded substantial increases, including mutton at 15.73 percent and beef at 12.87 percent.
Garlic prices climbed by 12.41 percent, while bread became 8.66 percent more expensive over the year.
However, some commodities provided relief to consumers on a yearly basis. Potato prices declined by 42.79 percent, while eggs became 34.17 percent cheaper. Prices of gram pulse fell by 22.56 percent, sugar by 15.71 percent, salt powder by 13.26 percent, masoor pulse by 12.07 percent, and chicken by 7.35 percent.
Economists say food and energy prices continue to exert pressure on household budgets despite recent improvements in some agricultural commodities. The latest SPI data suggests that fluctuations in perishable food items and energy costs remain key drivers of short-term inflation trends across the country.
The weekly inflation report comes as policymakers closely monitor price movements ahead of the new fiscal year, with inflation management remaining one of the government’s major economic challenges.
