Farooq Awan

Pakistan’s weekly inflation, measured through the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), recorded an increase of 0.12% for the week ended January 08, 2026, reversing the decline observed in the previous week, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

The SPI is compiled on a weekly basis to monitor short-term price movements of essential commodities and is based on the prices of 51 items collected from 50 markets across 17 urban centres of the country. The index provides an overview of price changes affecting households across different income groups.

During the reported week, the combined SPI rose from 333.96 to 334.35, reflecting a week-on-week increase of 0.12%. The rise indicates upward movement in prices of selected essential commodities compared to the preceding week ended January 01, 2026.

PBS data shows that out of the 51 items included in the SPI basket, prices of 21 items (41.18%) increased during the week, while 8 items (15.68%) recorded a decline. Prices of the remaining 22 items (43.14%) remained unchanged, indicating relative stability across a significant portion of the consumption basket.

The weekly increase was recorded across all expenditure groups. For the lowest consumption quintile (Q1), the SPI rose by 0.12%, while the second, third and fourth quintiles (Q2, Q3 and Q4) each registered an increase of 0.13%. The highest consumption quintile (Q5) recorded a comparatively lower increase of 0.11%. The combined SPI for all quintiles also increased by 0.12% during the week.

Historical data provided by PBS shows that the SPI had declined by 0.67% in the previous week ended January 01, 2026, before turning positive again in the current reporting period. The week-on-week change reflects short-term price movements and is used to track immediate inflationary pressures in essential goods.

According to the PBS, the SPI is designed to provide policymakers with timely information on price trends to help assess the prevailing price situation in the country. The weekly movement reflects changes in prices of food and non-food items that directly affect household consumption.

Credit: INP-WealthPk