Short-Term Inflation Crosses 15% as Food Prices Soar 

The Sensitive Price Index (SPI)-based inflation for the week ended October 17, 2024, increased by 0.28 percent, according to data issued by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday.  During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 19 (37.25 percent) items increased, 09 (17.65 percent) items decreased, and 23 (45.10 percent) items remained stable.  A major increase was observed in the prices of Tomatoes (26.24 percent), Pulse Moong (9.86 percent), Pulse Gram (3.15 percent), Wheat Flour (2.10 percent), Diesel (2.01 percent), LPG (1.50 percent), Garlic (1.31 percent), Chicken (0.96 percent), Eggs (0.68 percent), Mustard Oil (0.65 percent) and Firewood (0.35 percent).  On a year-on-year basis weekly inflation increased by 15.02 percent, major contributors were Gas Charges for Q1 (570.00 percent), Pulse Gram (80.85 percent), Onions (51.32 percent), Tomatoes (36.81 percent), Chicken (34.53 percent), Pulse Moong (33.23 percent), Powdered Milk (25.37 percent), Beef (23.62 percent), Shirting (17.05 percent), and Cooked Daal (14.41 percent).