By Moaaz Manzoor

Pakistan's weekly inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), declined by 0.45% during the week ended July 9, 2026, as sharp reductions in tomato and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices outweighed increases in the prices of potatoes, chicken, onions and other essential food items, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The SPI, which tracks the prices of 51 essential commodities across 50 markets in 17 urban centres, is used to monitor short-term inflationary trends and changes in the cost of living faced by consumers.

According to the PBS, tomatoes recorded the largest weekly decline, falling 23.30%, followed by LPG at 15.12%. Among other items, pulse moong prices declined by 2.15%, petrol by 0.69%, high-speed diesel by 0.63%, pulse masoor by 0.52%, sugar by 0.07%, and mustard oil by 0.06% compared with the previous week.

The decline in these commodities was partly offset by higher prices of several food items. Potato prices registered the largest weekly increase, rising 3.94%, followed by chicken at 3.70%, onions 3.54%, wheat flour 1.61%, eggs 0.81% and beef 0.59%. Prices of cooked daal increased 0.58%, fresh milk 0.50% and washing soap 0.44% during the week.

Overall price movements remained mixed during the week. Out of the 51 commodities included in the SPI basket, prices of 22 items increased, eight declined, while 21 remained unchanged, indicating that inflationary pressures persisted despite the overall weekly decline in the index.

On a year-on-year basis, however, weekly inflation remained elevated at 11.94%. Tomatoes recorded the sharpest annual increase of 129.01%, followed by onions at 76.34% and wheat flour at 71.22%. Electricity charges for the first quarter remained 49.14% higher than a year earlier, while gas charges increased 29.85% and LPG prices rose 25.51%. Mutton prices increased 16.36%, gents' sponge chappals 16.69%, chilli powder 15.20%, beef 13.56%, bananas 9.96% and bread 9.69%.

At the same time, several essential commodities continued to cost less than a year ago. Potato prices were down 35.89%, followed by pulse gram at 22.23%, chicken 21.32%, sugar 20.98%, salt powder 14.09%, pulse masoor 12.93%, eggs 9.23% and pulse moong 7.70%.

The latest SPI data also showed varying inflation trends across expenditure groups. Weekly inflation declined across all consumption quintiles, ranging from 0.32% for the third expenditure group to 0.55% for the highest expenditure group. On an annual basis, inflation ranged from 10.10% in the highest expenditure group to 14.46% in the second expenditure group, while the lowest expenditure group recorded 12.53%.

The latest PBS data suggest that although lower tomato, LPG and fuel prices helped reduce weekly inflation, continued increases in the prices of wheat flour, onions, potatoes, chicken and other essential food items kept household cost pressures elevated. While short-term inflation showed signs of easing, double-digit annual inflation indicates that consumers continue to face significant price pressures across a range of essential commodities.

Credit: INP-WealthPk