Weekly inflation decreases slightly to 37.69pc

The Sensitive Price Index (SPI), which tracks inflation, showed a 0.08 percent decline in the week ending August 11 compared to the week before, mainly due to lower food prices.

According to figures released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the annual growth rate of the SPI was 37.69 percent, down from a record high of 38.63 percent the previous week.

26 items had price increases during the week under review, nine saw price decreases, and 16 saw no change in rates.

The PBS data showed that the price of onions decreased by 10.18pc, bananas 2.71pc, chicken 1.3pc, ghee 0.79pc, mustard oil 0.36pc, basmati rice 0.33pc, cooking oil 0.17pc and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) 1.10pc.

On the other hand, the price of tomatoes was up 10.35pc, salt 3.73pc, eggs 3.67pc, pulse mash 3.65pc, pulse moong 3.18pc, pulse masoor 2.13pc, garlic 2.03pc and firewood 1.36pc.

The SPI decreased by 0.12pc for the lowest income group (i.e., people earning below Rs17,732 per month) and by 0.07pc for the group with a monthly income of above Rs44,175.

The year-on-year increase in pulse masoor was 111.9pc, onions 90.05pc, cooking oil 73.5pc, ghee 70.54pc and chicken 57.14pc. Meanwhile, the price of diesel was up 109.15pc year-on-year, petrol 88.94pc, washing soap 61.92pc and electricity charges for the lowest income group 52.61pc.