Weekly inflation rises 0.62% as fuel, flour prices increase

Pakistan’s weekly inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), increased by 0.62 per cent for the week ended April 30, 2026, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

The SPI for the combined group rose to 354.23 points from 352.04 points in the previous week.

The increase was driven primarily by higher fuel and food prices. Diesel prices rose by 7.53 per cent, followed by petrol at 7.18 per cent and wheat flour at 4.74 per cent. Other items that recorded increases included potatoes, bread, washing soap, pulse moong, mutton, beef, bananas, fresh milk and cigarettes.

On the other hand, prices of tomatoes declined by 17.17 per cent, while chicken, garlic, electricity charges for the first quarter, LPG, rice IRRI-6/9, eggs and various pulses also recorded decreases.

Out of 51 essential items monitored, prices of 14 items increased, 13 declined and 24 remained unchanged during the week.

On a year-on-year basis, major increases were recorded in petrol (54.44 per cent), electricity charges for Q1 (52.58 per cent), LPG (47.95 per cent), diesel (47.05 per cent) and wheat flour (44.57 per cent). Prices of onions, mutton, chilli powder, beef, powdered milk and garlic also increased compared to the same period last year.

Meanwhile, potatoes showed a decline of 46.68 per cent on a yearly basis, followed by decreases in pulse gram, powdered salt, sugar, pulse masoor, chicken, pulse moong and tea.

Among income groups, the SPI for the lowest consumption bracket (up to Rs17,732) rose by 0.17 per cent to 332.16 points. Other groups also recorded increases, ranging from 0.26 per cent to 0.83 per cent.

Separately, overall consumer inflation measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) returned to double digits for the first time in 21 months, and recorded at 10.89 per cent year-on-year in April, according to the statistics bureau.

The reading exceeded the Ministry of Finance’s forecast range of 8–9% outlined in its Monthly Economic Update, underscoring stronger-than-expected price pressures amid supply-side constraints linked to Middle East tensions.

On a month-on-month basis, the consumer price index increased by 2.5% in April, compared with a 1.2% rise in March and a 0.8% decline in April last year. Inflation had stood at 7.3% in March 2026 and 0.3% in April 2025.