The Federal Bureau of Statistics reported a 0.17% increase in inflation in Pakistan last week, raising the annual inflation rate to 20.09%. This rise was influenced by significant price hikes in 19 essential commodities, impacting the cost of living for many households.
Key items that experienced price increases include:
- Chicken
- Garlic
- Daal channa (split chickpeas)
- Eggs
- Meat
- Milk
- Firewood
- Cigarettes
In contrast, the prices of eight items saw a decrease, including tomatoes, onions, wheat flour, potatoes, daal masoor (red lentils), and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas).
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Notable annual price increases for essential commodities were observed as follows:
- Onions: Up by 96%
- Daal channa: Up by 40%
- Dry milk: Up by 39%
- Garlic: Up by 35%
- Moong daal: Up by 29%
- Beef: Up by 24%
- Salt: Up by 23%
- Maash daal: Up by 22%
A particularly striking increase was in gas charges, which rose by 570% over the past year, significantly affecting household budgets. While many items saw price increases, some commodities experienced price reductions. Notably, wheat flour became 32% cheaper, cooking oil dropped by 13.44%, ghee decreased by 10.42%, and eggs saw a 5.82% price reduction. Additionally, basmati rice, tea, and mustard oil also became cheaper. The Federal Bureau of Statistics’ data highlights the volatile nature of commodity prices in Pakistan, which has considerable implications for consumers and the economy.
