Rising food costs contribute short-term inflation surge, reaching 43.25%.

The weekly inflation surged by 0.37% for the week ending December 28, primarily propelled by increased prices of essential food items like onions, chicken, sugar, and pulses, as per official data reported by The News on Saturday.

The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), monitoring prices of 51 crucial items, rose to 43.25% year-on-year, compared to the previous week’s 42.6%, according to data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

In a span of one week, onion prices spiked by 15.2% to Rs188/kg, live chicken prices increased by 4.76% to Rs359/kg, moong pulse rose by 2.9% to Rs295/kg, gram pulse increased by 2.89% to Rs247/kg, sugar went up by 1.35% to Rs144/kg, bananas rose by 1.05% to Rs116/dozen, masoor pulse by 0.78% to Rs338/kg, and mash pulse prices increased by 0.54% to Rs5434/kg.

Conversely, significant decreases were observed in the prices of potatoes, down by 8.66% to Rs70/kg, tomatoes down by 1.01% to Rs107/kg, vegetable ghee (2.5 KG) down by 0.61% to Rs1322, cooking oil (5 Litre) down by 0.44% to Rs2,777, eggs down by 0.40% to Rs387/dozen, and mustard oil reduced by 0.24% to Rs503/kg.

According to the data, prices of 15 items (29.41%) increased, nine items (17.65%) decreased, and 27 items (52.94%) remained stable during the week.

As per the inflation bulletin, for individuals in the lowest income slab, earning up to Rs17,732 per month, the SPI inflation stood at 35.75%, while for those in the group spending more than Rs44,175 per month, it was recorded at 41.6%.

For the middle quintile (Rs22,889 to Rs29,517), the weekly inflation was at 46.99% — the highest among all groups.

Over the year, gas prices surged by 1108.6% (or Rs1,569.4/MMBtu) for those consuming up to 3.3719 MMBtu. Additionally, cigarette Capstan prices increased by 93%, chillies powder by 82%, wheat flour bag (20kg) by 74%, garlic by 71%, tomatoes by 65%, rice basmati broken, and Rice irri-6/9 prices increased by 58% each.

Furthermore, gents sponge chappal became costlier by 58%, sugar by 54%, gents sandal by 53%, gur by 48%, mash pulse by 44.6%, salt powdered by 42%, potatoes by 40.5%, tea Lipton by 39%, eggs by 38%, tea prepared by 35.6%, energy saver by 35%, shirting by 33%, plain bread by 32%, masoor pulse by 30%, powdered milk by 29%, LPG 11.67kg cylinder by 26%, petrol super, curd, cooked beef, and toilet soap each by 25%.

Fresh milk, long cloth, and matchbox prices also increased by 24% each. Washing soap, diesel, and lawn printed prices increased by 21% each. Mutton and beef prices increased by 19%, moong pulse by 18%, ladies’ sandal by 14%, electricity charges for Q1 by 10%, and firewood, chicken, and gram pulse became costlier by 9% each.

However, onion prices were 13% lower, and mustard oil was 5% less than the previous year.