Karachi, February 27, 2026 – Inflation in Pakistan, measured through the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), declined by 0.54% in the first week of Ramazan 2026, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The holy month began on February 19, 2026, and early data shows easing prices for several essential commodities.
The SPI tracks price movements of 51 essential items across 50 markets in 17 cities, providing a weekly snapshot of short-term inflation trends.
Weekly SPI Analysis – February 26, 2026
• Overall SPI: -0.54%
• Major Price Declines:
o Tomatoes: -29.67%
o Potatoes: -10.62%
o Chicken: -9.03%
o Onions: -7.44%
o Eggs: -3.43%
o Wheat Flour: -1.39%
o Bread: -1.12%
o Sugar: -0.79%
• Major Price Increases:
o Bananas: +4.49%
o Shirting: +1.36%
o LPG: +0.86%
o Garlic: +0.81%
o Long Cloth: +0.70%
o Mutton: +0.63%
o Pulse Masoor: +0.47%
o Lawn Printed: +0.44%
o Pulse Mash: +0.40%
o Powdered Milk: +0.26%
o Curd & Beef: +0.25%
During the week, 13 items (25.49%) saw price increases, 14 items (27.45%) recorded decreases, and 24 items (47.06%) remained stable.
Year-on-Year Trend
Despite the weekly decline, year-on-year inflation rose 4.23%, with notable increases in:
• Gas Charges Q1: +29.85%
• Wheat Flour: +29.51%
• Electricity Charges Q1: +17.33%
• Tomatoes: +16.83%
• Chilies Powder: +15.20%
• LPG: +13.60%
• Bananas: +11.73%
• Beef: +11.69%
• Firewood: +11.40%
• Powdered Milk: +10.16%
• Mutton: +8.98%
• Gur: +8.36%
Meanwhile, prices of certain items decreased significantly over the year:
• Potatoes: -52.55%
• Chicken: -29.55%
• Garlic: -26.18%
• Onions: -25.71%
• Pulse Gram: -23.74%
• Eggs: -16.22%
• Salt Powder: -12.52%
• Pulse Masoor: -11.93%
Market Outlook
PBS noted that the weekly SPI decline indicates a temporary easing in essential commodity prices during the early days of Ramazan. However, year-on-year trends highlight persistent inflationary pressures, particularly in energy, staple foods, and household essentials. Consumers are advised to monitor prices closely as the month progresses, while policymakers may consider interventions to stabilize key commodity prices.