By Ayesha Saba

Urban consumers faced a sharp rise in transport and fuel-related costs in April 2026, with increases exceeding 30% on a year-on-year basis.

According to the “Monthly Review on Price Indices April 2026” released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics and available with Wealth Pakistan, the transport group in urban areas recorded a 32.15% increase on a year-on-year basis, reflecting a significant rise in mobility-related expenses.

On a month-on-month basis, transport costs in urban areas increased by 17.04% in April, compared to March, indicating a rapid rise in prices within a short period.

The data shows that motor fuel was a key contributor to this increase. Motor fuel prices rose by 40.21% year-on-year in urban areas, while recording an 18.22% increase on a monthly basis. This highlights the strong impact of fuel price movements on overall transport costs.

Transport services also recorded substantial increases, rising by 37.65% year-on-year and 27.86% month-on-month. These increases reflect higher fares and service charges, contributing to rising urban living costs.

Other components within the transport category showed comparatively moderate increases. Mechanical services rose by 7.24% year-on-year, while motor vehicle accessories increased by 3.76% over the same period.

The report also highlights the role of other energy-related items in influencing transport costs. Liquefied hydrocarbons increased by 63.36% year-on-year and 38.34% month-on-month, indicating significant volatility in fuel-related inputs.

Electricity charges recorded a 33.71% increase on a year-on-year basis, while gas charges rose by 22.91%, reflecting broader increases in energy costs across urban households.

Month-on-month data further shows that fuel-related price movements remained strong during April. Motor fuel increased by 18.22%, while transport services rose by 27.86%, indicating sustained upward pressure within the transport sector.

At the wholesale level, fuel prices also recorded sharp increases, supporting the upward trend observed in consumer prices. Diesel prices rose by 92.93% year-on-year, motor spirit by 48.58%, and kerosene oil by 154.87%, indicating rising input costs across the supply chain.

The data indicates that urban transport and fuel costs recorded substantial increases in April 2026, reflecting broader energy-related price movements captured in the official statistics.

Credit: INP-WealthPk