Pakistan’s inflation eases slightly, says FBS

Inflation in Pakistan has fallen for the second consecutive week, according to the latest report from the Federal Bureau of Statistics.

The weekly inflation rate dropped by 1.34 percent this week, compared to a 0.2 percent decline recorded in the previous week. The annual inflation rate has also eased, coming down from 5.03 percent to 4.17 percent. The report highlighted changes in the prices of essential commodities. Prices of 18 items, including rice, eggs, mutton, beef, ghee, pulses, and firewood, went up during the week. Meanwhile, the prices of 14 basic commodities decreased, and 19 items remained stable.

Among the rising items, high-speed diesel increased by 1.06 percent, rice by 0.84 percent, eggs by 0.91 percent, beef by 0.42 percent, mutton by 0.31 percent, vegetable ghee by 0.25 percent, energy savers by 0.23 percent, and moong dal by 0.10 percent. On the other hand, several items saw a decline in prices. Tomatoes fell by 23.11 percent, chicken by 12.74 percent, flour by 2.60 percent, bananas by 5.07 percent, onions by 1.17 percent, lentils by 0.64 percent, masoor lentils by 0.47 percent, and garlic by 0.46 percent. The data also showed inflation trends across income groups. For households earning up to Rs17732 per month, inflation dropped to 3.82 percent.

Families earning between Rs17733 and Rs22888 faced an inflation rate of 4.02 percent, while those earning between Rs22889 and Rs29517 recorded 4.89 percent. For households with incomes between Rs29518 and Rs44175, inflation stood at 4.97 percent. For the highest income group above Rs44176, inflation was 3.47 percent. The overall decline indicates some relief for households, though prices of several essential items remain unstable.