Islamabad, March 6, 2026: The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported a noticeable surge in weekly inflation for the first fortnight of March 2026, primarily driven by a recent hike in fuel prices announced by the government.
The PBS releases weekly inflation data based on the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), which tracks the price movement of essential commodities over a short period. SPI includes 51 essential items collected from 50 markets across 17 cities in Pakistan, providing an up-to-date overview of the country’s price trends.
Weekly SPI Analysis
The SPI for the week ending March 5, 2026, increased by 0.37%. Key items contributing to the weekly rise include:
• Chicken: +10.46%
• LPG: +5.61%
• Bananas: +3.85%
• Petrol: +3.06%
• Diesel: +1.84%
• Garlic: +1.23%
Conversely, notable decreases were observed in:
• Tomatoes: -10.04%
• Eggs: -8.13%
• Onions: -6.08%
• Potatoes: -5.09%
• Wheat Flour: -2.40%
Out of the 51 items surveyed, 13 items (25.49%) increased, 11 items (21.57%) decreased, and 27 items (52.94%) remained stable during the week.
Year-on-Year Inflation
The year-on-year SPI trend shows a 4.70% increase. Major price hikes were recorded for:
• Gas charges (Q1): +29.85%
• Wheat Flour: +26.13%
• Electricity charges (Q1): +17.33%
• LPG: +16.89%
• Chilies powder: +15.20%
• Beef: +12.36%
Significant year-on-year decreases included potatoes (-53.76%), onions (-26.10%), eggs (-24.93%), garlic (-22.25%), and chicken (-21.70%).
Analysts say the SPI trends reflect the combined impact of rising fuel prices, seasonal supply fluctuations, and commodity-specific market dynamics, highlighting continued pressure on household budgets.
Weekly and Yearly SPI Summary
| Category | Week-on-Week Change (%) | Year-on-Year Change (%) |
| Q1 | 0.00 | 4.57 |
| Q2 | 0.09 | 5.95 |
| Q3 | 0.16 | 4.91 |
| Q4 | 0.26 | 4.16 |
| Q5 | 0.53 | 3.58 |
| Combined | 0.37 | 4.70 |
The PBS advises authorities and consumers to monitor price trends closely and take measures to manage essential commodity consumption and supply chain stability.