Weekly SPI decreases by 0.67%

January 02, 2026 (MLN): Pakistan’s short-term inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), decreased by 0.67% compared to the previous week, while it increased by 2.41% on a year-on-year basis, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

During the week, out of 51 essential items, prices of 12 items (23.53%) increased, 13 items (25.49%) decreased, while 26 items (50.98%) remained unchanged, according to PBS data.

The major weekly increase was recorded in the prices of chicken, which rose by 2.37%, followed by wheat flour up 1.88%, tomatoes increasing 1.72%, bananas higher by 1.13% and garlic rising 1.11%.

Rice basmati broken edged up by 0.96%, rice IRRI-6/9 by 0.75%, vegetable ghee (2.5 kg) by 0.44% and firewood by 0.01%.

On the other hand, the major weekly decrease was observed in the prices of onions, which fell by 11.84%, followed by potatoes down 10.21%, eggs lower by 6.25%, petrol declining 3.89% and diesel easing 3.20%.

Sugar decreased by 2.88%, pulse gram by 2.32%, pulse masoor by 1.80%, LPG by 1.31%, gur by 1.12% and pulse mash by 1.05%.

The year-on-year trend for the current week depicts an increase of 2.41% in the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI).

The major annual increase was observed in the prices of gas charges for Q1, which surged by 29.85%, followed by wheat flour up 24.98%, beef rising 12.95%, sugar increasing 11.90% and bananas higher by 10.63%.

Gur rose by 10.57%, firewood by 10.43%, chilies powder by 10.31%, powdered milk by 9.51%, lawn printed by 8.29%, shirting by 8.07% and mutton by 7.43%.

On the contrary, a significant year-on-year decrease was recorded in the prices of tomatoes, which plunged by 70.52%, followed by potatoes down 52.25%, onions lower by 40.54% and garlic declining 37.35%.

Pulse gram fell by 31.06%, tea Lipton by 17.79%, pulse mash by 14.01%, pulse masoor by 8.38%, LPG by 2.23% and diesel by 0.30%.

The average price of Sona urea stood at Rs4,323 per 50 kg bag, up by 0.63% from last week’s price, and a 4.76% decrease from last year.

Meanwhile, the average Cement price rose to Rs1,407 per 50 kg bag, which is 0.17% lower than the previous week, and 0.25% above last year.

PBS calculates short-term inflation using the SPI on a weekly basis to assess the price movement of essential commodities at shorter interval of time so as to review the price situation in the country.

SPI comprises 51 essential items collected from 50 markets in 17 cities of the country.

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