By Moaaz Manzoor

Pakistani households experienced sharply contrasting price movements during June, as substantial declines in fuel, electricity and poultry prices helped offset steep increases in the cost of key vegetables and other essential food items, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The PBS's Monthly Review on Price Indices (June 2026) shows that tomatoes recorded the sharpest monthly increase among commonly consumed food items, surging 90.1% in urban markets and 90.2% in rural areas. Onion prices also rose sharply, increasing 20.8% in urban areas and 22.3% in rural areas, while potatoes became 17.8% more expensive in cities and 36.5% costlier in rural markets. Fresh vegetables, wheat, wheat flour, cooking oil, vegetable ghee and fresh milk also registered month-on-month increases, indicating broad-based pressure on household food bills.

Despite the rise in food prices, several major household expenses moved in the opposite direction during the month. Motor fuel prices fell 12.1% in urban areas and 12.7% in rural areas, while electricity charges declined 4.3% across both regions.

Poultry products also became significantly cheaper, with chicken prices dropping 22.4% in urban markets and 21.0% in rural areas. Egg prices fell 10.7% and 11.6%, respectively, offering consumers some relief from rising food costs.

The monthly price movements also reflected differing trends across food categories. While perishable food items recorded strong increases, several staple pulses continued to decline. Prices of pulse moong, pulse mash, pulse gram, beans and besan all fell during June, alongside fish in urban areas and fresh fruits in rural markets. Sugar prices remained largely stable in urban areas but edged higher in rural markets.

Outside the food basket, consumers also faced higher prices for selected goods and services. Newspaper prices recorded double-digit monthly increases in both urban and rural areas, while washing detergents, tailoring charges, medical tests, doctor consultation fees and liquefied hydrocarbons also became more expensive. Rural consumers additionally faced increases in hospital service charges and construction wage rates during the month.

The report also highlights that year-on-year price movements differed considerably from monthly changes. Although potatoes, eggs, sugar and several pulses remained cheaper than in June last year, wheat, wheat flour and onions continued to record some of the largest annual increases across both urban and rural markets. In urban areas, wheat prices were 64.7% higher than a year earlier and wheat flour prices rose 55.3%, while rural markets recorded annual increases of 62.5% for wheat and 61.4% for wheat flour. Onions increased 60.1% in urban areas and 83.6% in rural areas over the same period.

The latest PBS data suggest that while lower transport and energy costs provided some relief to household budgets during June, consumers continued to face considerable volatility in food prices, particularly for fresh vegetables and wheat-based products.

Credit: INP-WealthPk