Weekly inflation inches up 0.22%

October 24, 2025 (MLN): The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) for the combined consumption group showed a marginal increase of 0.22% for the week ending October 23, 2025, while on a Year-on-Year (YoY) basis, the overall inflation stood at 5.03%, according to the latest data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). 

The weekly rise was largely driven by an uptick in the prices of key kitchen essentials such as onions, which surged 5.62%, energy savers (2.51%), eggs (2.38%), sugar (2.04%), firewood (1.17%), and garlic (0.93%).

Bananas, powdered milk, beef, and cooking oil also saw modest increases.

Conversely, notable declines were recorded in chicken prices, which dropped 2.51%, rice (IRRI-6/9) by 1.19%, and pulse moong by 0.65%. Minor reductions were also seen in LPG, gur, and wheat flour prices.

For the year-on-year comparison, the SPI showed a 5.03% increase over the corresponding week last year.

The sharpest yearly jumps were recorded in tomatoes, whose prices soared by a staggering 120.94%, followed by ladies’ sandals (55.62%), sugar (40.82%), gas charges for Q1 (29.85%), and wheat flour (18.28%). Prices of gur, beef, firewood, vegetable ghee, diesel, and eggs also remained elevated compared to last year.

Meanwhile, significant declines were seen in garlic (down 29.90%), pulse gram (28.23%), chicken (26.32%), electricity charges for Q1 (26.26%), onions (26.06%), and potatoes (19.65%).

Among different income groups, the lowest quintile experienced the highest weekly rise of 0.27%, while the highest quintile saw an increase of 0.21%.

On a yearly basis, inflation was most pronounced for middle-income households, where prices rose by over 6%.

The 10-week trend shows persistent volatility in weekly inflation.

After fluctuating in August and September, the SPI has largely remained positive in October, signaling continued price pressure despite some seasonal ease in select food categories.

The data further indicates a notable stability and even a downward correction in the prices of critical inputs.

Cement (50 kg Bag): The national average price for a 50 kg bag of cement was recorded at Rs. 1,393. The commodity saw a modest week-on-week (WoW) price decrease of -0.18%.

More significantly, year-on-year (YoY) prices provided a substantial respite for consumers and the construction industry, declining by -3.82% compared to the same week last year.

Urea (Sona Urea, 50 kg Bag): Similar relief was observed in the agricultural sector. The average retail price of Sona Urea (50 kg bag) was reported at Rs. 4,377.

This price marked a marginal WoW decrease of -0.17%.

Furthermore, reflecting price stabilization measures over the past year, the price of Sona Urea was -4.44% lower than the corresponding week in the previous year.

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