SPI-based inflation rises 0.62pc WoW

ISLAMABAD: The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI)-based weekly inflation recorded an increase of 0. 62 percent during the week ended April 30, 2026, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday. According to PBS data, the SPI for the combined group rose from 352. 04 points to 354. 23 points during the week under review. During the week, major increases were observed in the prices of diesel, which rose by 7. 53 percent, followed by petrol (7. 18 percent), wheat flour (4. 74 percent), potatoes (1. 39 percent), bread (0. 75 percent), washing soap (0. 68 percent), pulse moong (0. 66 percent), mutton (0. 45 percent), beef (0. 39 percent), bananas (0. 37 percent), fresh milk (0. 30 percent) and cigarettes (0. 24 percent). On the other hand, prices of tomatoes declined by 17. 17 percent, followed by chicken (6 percent), garlic (2. 38 percent), electricity charges for Q1 (0. 94 percent), pulse mash (0. 89 percent), LPG (0. 80 percent), rice IRRI-6/9 (0. 43 percent), eggs (0. 38 percent), pulse gram (0. 28 percent) and pulse masoor (0. 16 percent). READ MORE: Weekly SPI inflation up 1. 82pc During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 14 items (27. 45 percent) increased, 13 items (25. 49 percent) decreased, while 24 items (47. 06 percent) remained stable. On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, major increases were recorded in the prices of petrol (54. 44 percent), electricity charges for Q1 (52. 58 percent), LPG (47. 95 percent), diesel (47. 05 percent), wheat flour (44. 57 percent) and onions (39. 55 percent). Prices of mutton, chilli powder, beef, powdered milk and garlic also increased. Meanwhile, prices of potatoes declined by 46. 68 percent, followed by pulse gram (20. 12 percent), powdered salt (13. 22 percent), sugar (12. 01 percent), pulse masoor (11. 42 percent), chicken (4. 08 percent), pulse moong (1. 50 percent) and tea (1. 14 percent) compared to the same period last year, PBS reported. The SPI for the lowest consumption group (up to Rs 17, 732) increased by 0. 17 percent to 332. 16 points from 331. 60 points. The SPI for consumption groups of Rs 17, 733–22, 888; Rs 22, 889–29, 517; Rs 29, 518–44, 175; and above Rs 44, 175 increased by 0. 26 percent, 0. 37 percent, 0. 51 percent and 0. 83 percent, respectively. Reuters adds country’s consumer prices were up 10. 89 percent year-on-year in April, the statistics bureau said on Friday. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026

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