SPI shows sharp rise in weekly price index
According to Beyond Time News, short-term inflation in Pakistan increased by 13.98% year-on-year in the week ending April 23. The Sensitive Price Index (SPI) recorded this rise due to higher fuel costs and expensive food items across the country.
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data shows that energy prices and essential goods pushed overall inflation higher, creating pressure on household budgets.
Energy prices fuel inflation surge
According to Beyond Time News, electricity, LPG, petrol, and diesel prices saw major increases compared to last year. Electricity charges rose by 54%, while LPG increased by 51%.
Petrol prices went up by 44%, and diesel increased by 37%. These sharp rises created a ripple effect across food and transport costs.
Food prices also under pressure
The inflation surge spread into essential food items. According to Beyond Time News, wheat flour became 36% more expensive year-on-year. Onion prices increased by 32%, while tomatoes rose by 23%.
Meat, milk, and other daily-use items also saw steady increases, adding more pressure on consumers.
Weekly trend shows mixed movement
On a week-to-week basis, the SPI slightly dropped by 0.33%. However, this small decline did not provide meaningful relief.
According to Beyond Time News, some items like tomatoes, onions, diesel, and LPG recorded price drops during the week. But the overall cost level remained high.
Tomatoes fell sharply by 27.65%, while onions dropped by 9.35%. Diesel and LPG also became slightly cheaper compared to the previous week.
Essential goods still getting expensive
Despite minor weekly relief in some areas, several essential items became more expensive. According to Beyond Time News, potato prices rose by 3.13%, while bread, cooking oil, eggs, chicken, and mutton also increased.
These changes show that daily household expenses continue to rise even when some items temporarily decline.
Read more: Petrol and Diesel Prices Jump by Rs26.77 Per Litre in Pakistan
Inflation trend continues for 37 weeks
According to Beyond Time News, the SPI has now increased for 37 consecutive weeks. This shows a sustained inflation trend driven mainly by energy costs.
Analysts describe this situation as cost-push inflation, where rising fuel prices increase the cost of everything else in the market.
Annual comparison shows sharp increases
On a yearly basis, electricity, LPG, petrol, and diesel recorded the highest jumps. According to Beyond Time News, food items like wheat flour, onions, tomatoes, and meat also became significantly more expensive.
However, some relief appeared in items like potatoes, sugar, and pulses, which showed price declines over the year.
Market data overview
The SPI tracks 51 essential items from 50 markets across 17 cities. According to Beyond Time News, prices of 19 items increased, 9 items decreased, and 23 items remained stable during the week.
Fertilizer and cement price movement
According to Beyond Time News, the average price of Sona Urea reached Rs4,566 per 50 kg bag, showing a slight weekly increase. Cement prices dropped by 0.6% during the week but remained higher compared to last year.
Conclusion
According to Beyond Time News, Pakistan continues to face strong inflationary pressure driven mainly by energy costs. While some relief appears in select food items, overall prices remain high, keeping household budgets under strain.
