ISLAMABAD, April 17, 2026 — Pakistan’s weekly inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), declined 0.69% in the week ending April 16, helped by a sharp cut in petroleum prices, but remained elevated at 12.16% year-on-year, official data showed on Friday.
The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) said the decline in weekly inflation was largely driven by a reduction in fuel prices announced last week. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif cut diesel prices by Rs135 per litre and petrol by Rs12 per litre, which fed into the latest SPI reading.
The SPI tracks price movements of 51 essential commodities across 50 markets in 17 cities and is used as a short-term indicator of inflation trends.
On a weekly basis, the data showed notable declines in several key items, including diesel (-25.77%), chicken (-10.07%), onions (-6.63%), LPG (-4.15%), wheat flour (-3.34%) and petrol (-3.10%). Prices of bananas, garlic, mustard oil, pulses and potatoes also recorded marginal declines.
However, the report highlighted continued price pressures in essential food and household items. Tomatoes rose 6.27%, followed by bread (3.27%), eggs (2.09%) and fresh milk (1.15%). Increases were also recorded in textiles and consumer goods such as printed lawn fabric and washing soap.
Out of the 51 monitored items, 17 increased, 17 decreased and 17 remained unchanged, reflecting a broadly mixed price trend across the basket.
Despite the weekly easing, year-on-year inflation remained high at 12.16%, underscoring persistent price pressures in the economy.
On an annual basis, significant increases were observed in tomatoes (69.35%), LPG (60.40%), diesel (49.22%), petrol (44.10%), onions (42.67%) and wheat flour (28.80%). Prices of meat products, spices and gas charges also remained elevated.
Conversely, some commodities recorded declines compared with last year, including potatoes (-45.43%), sugar (-11.65%) and pulses such as gram and masoor.
Economists said the mixed inflation trend reflects volatility in food and energy prices, with fuel adjustments providing short-term relief while structural inflationary pressures persist, particularly in food supply chains and utilities.
They added that inflation outlook will remain sensitive to energy pricing, currency stability and global commodity trends in the coming months.