ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s annual inflation eased to 11.1 per cent in June from 11.7 per cent in May, while prices declined 0.3 per cent on a month-on-month basis, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Wednesday.
The latest figures showed that inflation remained elevated despite a slight moderation, with price trends varying sharply across different categories. While food staples such as tomatoes, onions and flour recorded notable increases, consumers received some relief from lower prices of chicken, eggs and petroleum products.
Urban, Rural Inflation Trends
According to the PBS, annual inflation in urban areas stood at 11.2 per cent, while prices fell 0.5 per cent on a monthly basis. Rural inflation was recorded at 10.9 per cent year-on-year.
The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI), which tracks the prices of essential commodities, registered a 12.8 per cent increase compared with the same period last year.
On a monthly basis, tomato prices surged 90 per cent, onions rose 21 per cent and potatoes climbed 18 per cent. Prices of fresh vegetables increased by 12.5 per cent, while flour and ghee became 2.2 per cent and 1.9 per cent more expensive, respectively.
However, chicken prices fell 22 per cent during the month, while eggs became nearly 11 per cent cheaper. Consumers also benefited from a 12 per cent decline in petroleum product prices and a 4.3 per cent reduction in electricity bills.
Food, Energy Prices Remain Under Pressure
Despite the monthly easing, annual price increases remained pronounced across several essential goods and services.
The PBS said wheat prices were 65 per cent higher than a year earlier, while flour prices had increased by 55 per cent. Tomato prices rose 52 per cent year-on-year, while onions were 60 per cent more expensive.
Prices of meat, dairy products and bakery items also posted significant annual increases. In contrast, potatoes were 40 per cent cheaper than a year ago, eggs declined 33 per cent and sugar prices fell 16 per cent.
Meanwhile, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) prices rose by more than 60 per cent on an annual basis. Transport costs, petrol, electricity and gas tariffs also recorded significant year-on-year increases, underscoring the continued pressure on household budgets despite the moderation in headline inflation.
