The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics has reported a notable decline in the weekly inflation rate, which dropped to 8.3%, bringing some relief to consumers amid rising cost-of-living concerns.
The latest report highlights a mixed trend in the prices of essential commodities, with 14 items becoming more expensive, 11 showing price reductions, and 26 items remaining stable over the past week.
According to the report, the weekly inflation rate dropped by 0.83%, while the annual inflation rate stood at a negative 2.81%, suggesting a broader downward trend in consumer prices.
Commodities that became costlier
Among the items that recorded a price hike were LPG cylinders, which saw an increase of Rs21.36, and daal channa, which became costlier by Rs4.95 per kilogramme. Other everyday essentials such as curd (up by Rs1.36/kg), sugar (up by Rs0.23/kg), jaggery, daal maash, beef, and certain clothing items also experienced slight price increases.
Items that became cheaper
On the other hand, several commodities saw a significant drop in prices. Garlic experienced the sharpest decline, becoming cheaper by Rs81.48 per kilogramme. Broiler chicken dropped by Rs43.80, while the price of tomatoes fell by Rs10.52/kg. Other items that became more affordable include onions, eggs, bananas, wheat flour, and potatoes, offering some relief to household budgets.
The report further noted that the prices of 26 essential items remained unchanged over the past week, indicating a level of stability in certain segments of the market.
