ISLAMABAD: The country’s inflation rate has recorded a significant rise, surpassing the 4 percent mark following a weekly surge in the prices of essential commodities.
According to the latest weekly report issued by the Federal Bureau of Statistics, the inflation rate on a weekly basis increased by 0.56 percent. The data reveals that during the past week, prices of 19 essential items went up, 12 items became cheaper, while the prices of 20 items remained unchanged.
The overall annual inflation rate has now climbed to 4.07 percent, reflecting growing price pressures across multiple categories of daily-use goods.
During the week under review, tomato prices experienced a sharp increase of 46.44 percent, making them the most notable contributor to the overall inflation hike. Petrol prices rose by 1.72 percent, while the price of high-speed diesel registered an increase of 1.45 percent.
Similarly, garlic became 1.41 percent more expensive, and onion prices increased by 1.22 percent. In addition to these, other essential commodities including ghee, beef, mutton, yogurt, and cigarettes also witnessed price hikes, further burdening household budgets.
On the other hand, a slight relief was observed in the prices of some items. Chicken became 7.96 percent cheaper, while the price of bananas decreased by 0.78 percent. Prices of pulses, potatoes, cooking oil, and LPG also fell during the week, providing some balance to the overall price movement.
The report highlights the mixed trend in commodity prices but underscores that the sharp rise in key food items and fuel has pushed the overall inflation rate above 4 percent, signaling continued economic pressure on consumers.
