Inflation has breached comfort levels and assumed ‘worrisome’ proportions in Pakistan as March saw a new round of increased prices of consumer items.

The inflation edged up to 9.1 per cent from 8.7pc in February, showed data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
During the week, out of 51 items, prices of 15 (29.41%) items increased, 12 (23.53%) items decreased and 24 (47.06%) items remained constant.
The SPI (Sensitive Price Indicator) for the current week ended on April 1 recorded a decrease in the prices of Food items i.e. Chicken (8.44%), Tomatoes (5.70%), Onions (1.95%), Pulse Moong (0.84%), Potatoes (0.74%), Pulse Gram (0.24%), Mustard Oil and Pulse Masoor (0.15% each) and Pulse Mash (0.05%) and Non Food items i.e. Diesel (2.56%), Petrol (1.36%) and LPG (0.51%) with the joint impact of (-0.68%) into the overall SPI for the combined group of (-0.43%).
On the other hand, an increase was observed in the prices of Bananas (2.19%), Sugar (1.92%), Cooking Oil (1.23%) and Mutton (1.04%).
The year on year trend depicts an increase of 17.21% with most of the items increased mainly Chilies Powder (139.64%), Chicken (80.59%), Electricity for Q1 (69.19%), Eggs (42.26%), Tomatoes (33.96%), Gents Sandal (33.37%), Match Box (30.47%), Mustard Oil (29.43%), Gents Sponge Chappal (25.13%), Sugar (22.73%), Washing Soap (21.47%) and Vegetable Ghee 1 Kg (20.86%) While a major decrease was observed in the price of Onions (49.28%), Garlic (44.92%), Potatoes (11.11%), Pulse Moong (10.36%). Pulse Gram (4.20%) and LPG (0.67%).
SPI comprises 51 essential items and the prices are being collected from 50 markets in 17 cities of the country.
SPI is computed on weekly basis to assess the price movements of essential commodities at a shorter interval of time to review the price situation in the country.

Our guide to every Week 7 NFL game: Matchup previews, predictions, picks and nuggets
- 12 hours ago
Punjab extends Section 144 for seven days
- a day ago

Cards vague on status of QB Murray, WR Harrison
- 12 hours ago
Pakistan strikes camps of Kharji Gul Bahadur group: Tarar
- a day ago

Our understanding of memory is all wrong
- 2 hours ago

Atari’s resurrecting the Intellivision, one of its biggest competitors in the ‘80s
- 4 hours ago
Flights suspended at Dhaka airport due to fire: media reports
- a day ago
Spinner Maharaj to return for South Africa against Pakistan
- 10 minutes ago

Trump manages to disappoint nearly everyone with his new IVF plan
- 11 hours ago

OpenAI suspends MLK deepfakes on Sora after ‘disrespectful’ videos
- 4 hours ago

Pakistani delegation to hold talks with Afghan Taliban today: FO
- a day ago
Sultan of Johor Junior Hockey Cup: Pakistan lose 2–3 to England, fail to secure third place
- a day ago