BeNewz
Related Articles
Aftab Maken
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan SPI inflation rose by 0.23 percent on a week-on-week basis for the week ended September 10, 2026, driven largely by sharp increases in petrol, diesel and LPG prices, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), which tracks the weekly cost of 51 essential items across 50 markets in 17 cities, showed a mixed picture — non-food fuel items pushed the index higher even as several kitchen staples became cheaper, offering some relief to consumers already grappling with a steep year-on-year rise.
Background: What’s Driving Pakistan SPI Inflation This Week
The PBS report shows that out of the 51 items tracked, prices of 14 items (27.45 percent) increased, 10 items (19.61 percent) decreased, and 27 items (52.94 percent) remained unchanged during the week. The biggest contributors to this week’s uptick in Pakistan SPI inflation were non-food items: Petrol Super rose 6.18 percent, Hi-Speed Diesel climbed 5.49 percent, and LPG (11.67 kg cylinder) increased 4.32 percent compared to the previous week. Among food items, Pulse Mash, Wheat Flour and Pulse Masoor also registered modest increases.
On the other hand, several perishable food items saw notable price drops. Bananas fell 7.73 percent, Tomatoes dropped 5.24 percent, Chicken declined 4.22 percent, and Onions eased 3.72 percent week-on-week — a trend that has partly cushioned households from the broader inflationary pressure.
Looking at the year-on-year comparison, the picture is starker: the SPI has increased by 8.62 percent compared to the same week last year. Onions recorded the sharpest annual jump at 125.52 percent, followed by LPG (55.42 percent), Diesel (45.26 percent) and Petrol (39.10 percent). Meanwhile, Potatoes, Chicken, Sugar and Eggs were among the items that became cheaper compared to a year ago.
The PBS data also breaks down the impact of Pakistan SPI inflation across income groups. The lowest income quintile (Q1, up to Rs 17,732) actually saw a week-on-week decline of 0.30 percent, while the highest quintile (Q5, above Rs 44,175) saw the steepest weekly rise at 0.47 percent — reflecting the differing consumption baskets across income groups. On an annual basis, however, all quintiles recorded increases ranging between 7.25 percent and 8.92 percent.
Public Reaction on Social Media
The latest SPI figures triggered a wave of discussion on social media platforms, with many users focusing on the sustained rise in petrol and diesel prices despite occasional relief on food items. Commuters and small traders shared concerns about transportation costs, while some households noted that cheaper vegetables and poultry this week offered only partial relief given the broader cost-of-living pressures. Several users also flagged the sharp year-on-year jump in onion prices, contrasting it with the item’s steep weekly decline, and questioned the volatility in vegetable markets. Economic commentators and citizens alike used the weekly SPI release, as they typically do, to renew calls for stronger price controls in local markets.
Expert Analysis
Economic analysts note that the latest Pakistan SPI inflation reading reflects the continuing pass-through effect of global energy prices and currency movements on domestic fuel costs, which remain the single largest driver of short-term inflation volatility in Pakistan. The divergence between falling perishable food prices and rising fuel and energy costs is described by analysts as a seasonal pattern, with fresh produce supply typically improving in early autumn while fuel prices remain sensitive to international oil markets and periodic domestic price adjustments.
Analysts also point to the quintile-wise data as significant: lower-income households, who spend a larger share of their budgets on food, benefited more from this week’s drop in vegetable and poultry prices, while higher-income groups — with greater exposure to fuel and services costs — saw a sharper weekly increase. On the year-on-year trend, experts caution that despite the easing of some food prices from their earlier peaks, the underlying inflationary base remains elevated, particularly for energy and utility-linked items such as LPG, electricity and diesel.
SPI Summary Data Table
| Category | This Week (10-09-2026) | Previous Week (03-09-2026) | Change (WoW) | Year Ago (11-09-2025) | Change (YoY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Combined SPI | 364.26 | 363.42 | +0.23% | 335.35 | +8.62% |
| Petrol Super (Per Litre) | Rs 369.75 | Rs 348.24 | +6.18% | Rs 265.82 | +39.10% |
| Hi-Speed Diesel (Per Litre) | Rs 394.68 | Rs 374.13 | +5.49% | Rs 271.71 | +45.26% |
| LPG (11.67 kg Cylinder) | Rs 4,810.14 | Rs 4,610.97 | +4.32% | Rs 3,094.86 | +55.42% |
| Wheat Flour (20 kg Bag) | Rs 2,694.20 | Rs 2,681.53 | +0.47% | Rs 2,069.65 | +30.18% |
| Onions (1 kg) | Rs 202.61 | Rs 210.44 | -3.72% | Rs 89.84 | +125.52% |
| Tomatoes (1 kg) | Rs 186.58 | Rs 196.90 | -5.24% | Rs 226.58 | -17.65% |
| Chicken Farm Broiler (1 kg) | Rs 346.24 | Rs 361.48 | -4.22% | Rs 457.37 | -24.30% |
| Bananas (1 Dozen) | Rs 159.05 | Rs 172.38 | -7.73% | Rs 143.92 | +10.51% |
| Sugar Refined (1 kg) | Rs 145.59 | Rs 146.21 | -0.42% | Rs 184.01 | -20.88% |
| Eggs Hen Farm (1 Dozen) | Rs 248.30 | Rs 249.99 | -0.68% | Rs 310.19 | -19.95% |
