Short-term inflation increases 9.29% YoY

ISLAMABAD:

The pace of inflation accelerated during the first week of August 2026, reversing the slowdown recorded in the final week of the previous month. The weekly inflation rate rose 0.28%, while the annual inflation stood at 9.29%.

During the week, prices of 20 essential commodities increased, nine declined, while 22 remained unchanged, according to the weekly inflation report released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

PBS data showed that chicken prices surged 9.19% week-on-week, while onion prices increased 10.14%. Prices of gram pulse rose 2.43%, red chilli powder 1.01%, mustard oil 0.99%, tea 0.57%, washing soap 0.08%, wheat flour 0.52%, vegetable ghee 0.37% and firewood 0.32%.

On the other hand, tomato prices fell 6.82%, LPG 1.90%, high-speed diesel 1.66%, petrol 0.63%, sugar 0.51%, plain bread (roti) 0.29%, eggs 0.09%, potatoes 0.09% and bananas 1.20%.

According to the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), the annual inflation for different income groups was as follows: Households earning up to Rs17,732 per month faced 9.51% annual inflation, with a 0.43% weekly increase. Those earning between Rs17,733 and Rs22,888 endured 9.87% annual inflation, with a 0.41% weekly increase.

Households with monthly incomes between Rs22,889 and Rs29,517 experienced 8.79% annual inflation, with a 0.36% weekly increase. For the Rs29,518 to Rs44,175 income group, the annual inflation stood at 8.96%, with a 0.34% weekly increase. Households earning above Rs44,176 per month faced 9% annual inflation, with a 0.20% weekly increase. According to the PBS data, major annual increases were recorded in prices of tomatoes, higher by 178.03%, followed by onions 84.65%, wheat flour 80.02%, LPG 53.83%, diesel 34.44%, petrol 25.97%, gents' sponge chappal 16.69%, chilli powder 16.37%, mutton 16.12%, bananas 15.11%, beef 13.81% and plain bread 9.37%.