Lahore – Inflationary pressures have increased once again in the country. According to the latest weekly report of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) recorded an increase of 0.49 percent during the week ending August 20, 2026, after which the weekly inflation rate reached 9.66 percent on an annual basis.
According to official data, the prices of 51 basic daily necessities were reviewed in the week under review. Out of these, 23 items became more expensive, the prices of 10 were recorded to decrease while the prices of 18 items remained at the previous week’s level. The data shows that despite the increase in overall inflation, the price trend in the market was not uniform for all items.
According to the report, the price of petrol increased by 3.77 percent during the week, which was a significant factor in the overall inflationary pressure. Among food items, the price of onion increased the most and its price was recorded to increase by 14.17 percent. Chicken also became more expensive by 3.35 percent, while the prices of several other daily necessities including lentils, chickpeas, garlic and tea also increased.
These price changes have come at a time when domestic consumers are already facing an increase in the cost of food, energy and other basic necessities. In particular, the increase in prices of items like onions, chicken and lentils can directly impact the monthly budget of middle and low-income households.
However, there was a significant decline in the prices of some commodities during the week. According to the Bureau of Statistics, egg prices fell by 5.78 percent, while diesel prices fell by 5.15 percent. Tomatoes became cheaper by 4.99 percent and potatoes by 1.17 percent. Sugar, LPG and banana prices also saw a decline, providing partial relief to consumers in some sectors.
According to experts, weekly inflation figures reflect short-term price movements, so it is not appropriate to consider a single week’s increase as a definitive measure of the long-term trend without careful analysis. Local food supplies, seasonal factors, fuel prices, global commodity prices and supply-demand conditions may affect the direction of inflation in the coming weeks.
The increase in petrol prices is also of particular importance because fuel prices can directly affect consumer travel costs, as well as the cost of delivering goods and doing business. On the other hand, the reduction in diesel prices may provide some relief for the transportation sector.
Overall, the latest data shows that inflationary pressures in the country are persisting, although prices of various commodities are falling and rising simultaneously. In the coming weeks, the situation in petroleum products, food prices and market supply will determine whether this inflationary pressure decreases or increases further.
