Islamabad, November 21, 2025 – Pakistani households are feeling the pinch as the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI)-based weekly inflation registered a modest increase, primarily fueled by a significant hike in the prices of essential kitchen commodities.
Data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday confirmed a slight uptick for the week ending November 20, 2025.
Key Inflation Figures: SPI Climbs 0.07% Week-on-Week
According to the latest PBS data, the weekly inflation, measured by the SPI, increased by 0.07% over the preceding week. This marginal rise masks sharper increases in several daily-use food items, often referred to as “kitchen essentials.”
The SPI tracks the prices of 51 items across 17 urban centers, providing a crucial snapshot of short-term price movements affecting the cost of living for the country’s most vulnerable economic segments.
The Price Pressure Points: Tomatoes, LPG, and Sugar Lead the Surge
The primary culprits behind the inflation jump were volatile food prices and key utility components. Consumers saw the most significant weekly price hikes in:
• Tomatoes: A staggering 57.03% increase.
• LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas): Up by 5.16%.
• Garlic: Increased by 2.61%.
• Sugar: Price rose by 2.23%.
• Diesel: Increased by 2.17%, which is likely to impact transportation costs for all goods.
• Bananas: Up by 0.72%.
• Vegetable Ghee 1Kg: Increased by 0.21%.
• Beef: Price rose by 0.17%.
In total, prices for 16 out of 51 items (31.37%) monitored by the SPI increased during the week. Other items that saw an increase include Georgette (0.80%), Tea Prepared (0.59%), Firewood (0.26%), and Mustard Oil (0.13%).
Relief for Consumers: Onions, Chicken, and Potatoes See Major Drops
While the overall trend was upward, consumers found some relief in the prices of several staple goods, which saw a considerable decrease:
• Onions: Dropped sharply by 12.38%.
• Chicken: Decreased by 8.07%.
• Potatoes: Down by 5.69%.
• Wheat Flour: Price declined by 1.41%.
• Pulse Moong: Lower by 1.62%.
Overall, the prices of 13 items (25.49%) decreased, and 22 items (43.14%) remained stable during the week.
Year-on-Year Comparison: Long-Term Inflation Stays High
Looking at the broader economic picture, the year-on-year (YoY) trend highlights a persistent inflationary environment, with an overall increase of 3.53% compared to the same week last year.
The items showing the most alarming YoY price hikes include:
| Item | Year-on-Year Increase |
| Sugar | 43.77% |
| Gas Charges for Q1 | 29.85% |
| Wheat Flour | 17.31% |
| Gur (Jaggery) | 16.35% |
| Beef | 13.45% |
| Diesel | 11.66% |
Conversely, some items are significantly cheaper than a year ago, providing a cushion against the overall inflation, notably: Garlic (-36.79%), Potatoes (-29.56%), Pulse Gram (-29.26%), and Electricity Charges for Q1 (-26.26%).
The continuous volatility in the prices of basic necessities like vegetables, fuel, and sugar remains a core challenge for economic planners, directly impacting the budgets of average Pakistani households.