Inflation hits 41.90% as prices of essential items soar

Islamabad: Inflation has surged to unprecedented levels, with prices of 25 essential items witnessing a further increase in the past week, contributing to an overall inflation rate of 41.90 percent.

As reported by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, there was a notable 9.95 percent rise in the recent week alone, propelling the cumulative inflation rate to 41.9 percent.

The cost of natural gas experienced a staggering 480 percent increase, resulting in a surge from Rs295 per MBBTU to Rs1,711 MBBTU.

Several essential items saw significant price hikes, including a Rs49.94 increase in the cost of a 190-gram tea pack, a rise of Rs16.36 per kg for masoor lentils, and a Rs14 per kg increase for chicken.

Besides it, the price of a 20-kg flour bag rose by Rs72.55. Out of the 25 essential items, prices of 13 increased, 13 remained stable, and 13 experienced a decrease.