ISLAMABAD: Pakistanis are facing increased living costs as the country’s weekly inflation rose by 0.97%, bringing the annual inflation rate to 8.24%.
According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics, during the past week, the prices of 23 essential items increased, while 6 items became cheaper, and 22 commodities remained unchanged.
Vegetables experienced the highest price hikes, with onions up by 18.10% and tomatoes by 11.38%. Potato prices increased by 8.11%, and chicken prices rose by 8.70%.
Energy and daily-use commodities also saw notable increases; LPG prices surged 10.05%, while electricity charges for the first quarter climbed 6.11%. Moreover, the costs of eggs, garlic, mutton, beef, and firewood went up during the week.
Conversely, some essential items became cheaper: bananas fell by 4.50%, flour by 1%, while sugar, jaggery, and rice prices also recorded a decline.
Economists caution that the rising prices of food and energy may continue to strain household budgets, highlighting the need for careful monitoring of both domestic supply and global commodity.
