Pakistan’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) registered a 6.9 per cent year-on-year (YoY) increase in September, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).
This is within the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) target range of 5-7 per cent, a goal the central bank aimed to achieve by September 2025.
On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, inflation dropped by 0.5 per cent, reversing the 0.4% rise seen in August. This marked a significant milestone for the country, as inflation in August had peaked at 9.6 per cent, the lowest in 34 months.
Pakistan’s CPI records 6.9 per cent YoY increase in September
Moreover, the finance minister highlighted that inflation would further subside, supported by the completion of the IMF’s stand-by agreement.
Key contributors to urban food inflation included surges in onion prices (78 per cent), Pulse Gram (57 per cent), and Besan (48 per cent). Non-food items saw significant hikes in gas charges (319 per cent) and motor vehicle tax (169 per cent).
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In addition, rural areas experienced similar trends, with food prices for onions and Pulse Gram rising by 90 per cent and 48 per cent, respectively, while motor vehicle taxes surged by 127 per cent.
Furthermore, month-on-month, food items like Besan and Pulse Gram recorded significant price increases in urban and rural areas, signaling ongoing inflationary pressures despite overall improvements.
