SPI-based inflation rises slightly

Islamabad witnessed a slight uptick in SPI-based inflation in the week ending September 17, 2026, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The Sensitive Price Index, which tracks a basket of 51 goods and services, rose by 0.49percent. This increase was driven by a sharp rise in the prices of diesel, petrol, and LPG.

Diesel prices surged by 7.29percent, petrol by 6.40percent, and LPG by 3.26percent. Other notable price increases included garlic up 1.94percent, eggs up 1.72percent, pulse gram up 0.80percent, bread plain up 0.74percent, masoor pulse up 0.49percent, mustard oil up 0.44percent, and moong pulse up 0.39percent. Conversely, prices of certain items declined, such as bananas down 6.17percent, tomatoes down 5.66percent, onions down 4.57percent, chicken down 2.33percent, powdered milk down 0.40percent, wheat flour down 0.28percent, rice irri-6/9 down 0.16percent, and sugar down 0.14percent.

Year-on-Year (YoY) inflation saw a significant rise of 10.64percent, mainly due to soaring prices of onions (117.77percent), LPG (60.42percent), diesel (54.21percent), petrol (48percent), and electricity for Q1 (33.54percent). The YoY data showed notable reductions in the prices of potatoes (35.31percent), sugar (20.95percent), eggs (19.31percent), chicken (15.26percent), salt powder (13.96percent), pulse gram (12.42percent), pulse masoor (11.26percent), and moong pulse (8.49percent).

When analyzed by income groups, households earning up to Rs17,732 experienced a slight decline in SPI (-0.14percent), while higher income groups saw an increase ranging from 0.14percent to 0.77percent. Overall, the combined SPI increased from 364.26 to 366.05 points, marking a 0.49percent rise.