News

Pakistan Inflation Rate Accelerates in March
The annual inflation rate in Pakistan rose to 7.3% in March 2026, up from 7% in February. This marks the highest level since August 2024, falling out of the State Bank of Pakistan's 5-7% range. Upward price pressures were mainly due to transport (12.5% versus 0.4%) and housing and utilities (11.5% versus 9.7%). In contrast, price increases slowed for food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.6% versus 5.8%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 1.2%, up from 0.3% in the previous month.
Published on 2026-04-01

Pakistan Inflation Rises to 5.8% in January
Pakistan’s year-on-year inflation climbed to 5.8% in January 2026, up from 5.6% in December, staying within the State Bank’s 5–7% target range and the Ministry of Finance’s forecast of 5–6%. Price increases accelerated for food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.90% vs 3.24%), housing and utilities (7.29% vs 6.86%), and miscellaneous goods and services (20.97% vs 19.26%), while transport inflation eased to 2.61% from 4.94%. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.4%, rebounding from a 0.4% decline in December.
Published on 2026-02-02

Pakistan Inflation Rises to 5.8% in January
Pakistan’s year-on-year inflation climbed to 5.8% in January 2026, up from 5.6% in December, staying within the State Bank of Pakistan’s 5–7% target range and the Ministry of Finance’s forecast of 5–6%. Price increases accelerated for food and non-alcoholic beverages (3.90% vs 3.24%), housing and utilities (7.29% vs 6.86%), and miscellaneous goods and services (20.97% vs 19.26%), while transport inflation eased to 2.61% from 4.94%. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.4%, rebounding from a 0.4% decline in December.
Published on 2026-02-02

Pakistan Inflation Rate Slows to 4-Month Low
Pakistan’s annual inflation eased to 5.6% in December 2025 from 6.1% in November, marking the lowest reading since August. The slowdown was mainly driven by softer food price pressures, with inflation for food and non-alcoholic beverages decelerating (3.2% vs 5.5% in November). This reflected a sharper decline in perishable food prices (-17.8% vs -3.7%), which more than offset a slight pickup in inflation for non-perishable food items (7.5% vs 7.3%). Price growth also moderated for clothing and footwear (6.2% vs 6.5%), furnishings and household maintenance (3.4% vs 3.5%), and health (7.7% vs 8.3%). Costs fell for restaurants and hotels (5.6% vs 5.3%), while prices continued to decline for recreation and culture (-4.3% vs -4.1%). In contrast, inflation accelerated for housing and utilities (6.9% vs 5.3%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.45% after rising 0.4% in November. Annual inflation slowed in both urban areas (5.8% vs 6.1%) and rural regions (5.4% vs 6.3%).
Published on 2026-01-02

Pakistan Inflation Ticks Down in November
Pakistan's annual inflation rate slightly eased to 6.1% in November 2025 from a one-year high of 6.2% in October. Price growth marginally slowed for food and non-alcoholic beverages (5.5% vs 5.6% in October), as the decline in perishable food items (-3.7% vs -1.7%) was offset by a pick-up in inflation for non-perishable food items (7.3% vs 6.3%). Inflation also eased for clothing and footwear (6.5% vs 8.1%), furnishing and household maintenance (3.5% vs 4.0%), health (8.3% vs 9.7%), and restaurants and hotels (5.3% vs 6.1%). Meanwhile, costs continued to decline for recreation and culture (-4.1% vs -3.7%). Conversely, price growth accelerated for housing and utilities to 5.3% from 4.2% in October. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.4%, following a 1.8% jump in the previous period. In the meantime, annual urban inflation increased to 6.1% from 6.0% in October, while the rural inflation rate eased to 6.3% from 6.6%.
Published on 2025-12-01

Pakistan Inflation Rate Highest in a Year
Pakistan’s annual inflation rate accelerated to 6.2% in October 2025, the highest level in a year, up from 5.6% in September. Food prices rose the most since since April 2024 (5.6% vs 5% in September), reflecting the impact of severe floods and border closures with Afghanistan following clashes that disrupted trade and worsened food shortages. The sharpest price increases were recorded for tomatoes (126.96%), sugar (34.83%), butter (29.63%), wheat (22.56%), honey (17.78%), wheat flour (15.69%). Inflation also accelerated for housing and utilities (4.2% vs 3.7%), transport (6.7% vs 4.2%), clothing and footwear (8.1% vs 8.0%), and miscellaneous goods and services (18.2% vs 14.9%). Meanwhile, inflation was steady for restaurants and hotels (6.1%) and slowed slightly for furnishing and household equipment maintenance (4% vs 4.1%), while prices declined for recreation and culture (-3.7% vs -2.7%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 1.8%, led by a 14.9% surge in perishable food costs.
Published on 2025-11-03

Pakistan Inflation Hits Nearly One-Year High
Pakistan’s annual inflation surged to 5.6% in September, the highest since October 2024, up from 3.0% in August. The rise was driven primarily by a notable rebound in food and non-alcoholic beverages (5.0% vs. -1.8% in August), alongside faster price growth in housing and utilities (3.7% vs. 3.6%), transport (4.2% vs. 2.5%), furnishing and household equipment maintenance (4.1% vs. 3.5%) and miscellaneous goods and services (14.9% vs. 14.4%). Partially offsetting the increase were slower gains in clothing and footwear (8.0% vs. 8.1%), and restaurants and hotels (6.1% vs. 7.2%), as well as a further decline in recreation and culture (-2.7% vs. -2.3%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 2.0% in September, rebounding from a 0.6% drop in August.
Published on 2025-10-01

Pakistan Inflation Slows to Four-Month Low
Pakistan’s annual inflation eased to 3.0% in August, the slowest in four months, slowing from 4.1% in July, driven by slower price increases across several categories, including clothing and footwear (8.1% vs. 8.4% in July), transport (2.5% vs. 2.7%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (3.6% vs. 3.7%), health (10.6% vs. 10.8%), restaurants and hotels (7.2% vs. 7.7%), and miscellaneous goods and services (14.4% vs. 14.9%), alongside a decline in food and non-alcoholic beverages (-1.8% vs. 0.9%) and a further drop in recreation and culture (-2.3% vs. -1.5%). In contrast, prices accelerated in furnishing and household equipment maintenance (3.5% vs. 3.3%) and education (10.9% vs. 10.2%), while housing and utilities remained stable at 3.6%. On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell 0.6% in August, reversing the 2.9% increase in July.
Published on 2025-09-01

Pakistan Inflation Hits 7-Month High
Pakistan’s annual inflation rate accelerated to 4.1% in July from 3.2% in the previous month, marking the highest level since December 2024. The uptick in prices was mainly driven by a rebound in housing and utilities (3.6% vs. -3.3%) and a further rise in transport (2.7% vs. 0.6%). However, these increases were partly offset by slower price growth in food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.9% vs. 2.6%), clothing and footwear (8.4% vs. 9.0%), alcoholic beverages and tobacco (3.7% vs. 5.1%), furnishing and household equipment maintenance (3.3% vs. 3.7%), health (10.8% vs. 12.2%), restaurants and hotels (7.7% vs. 8.4%), and miscellaneous goods and services (14.9% vs. 15.3%). In addition, prices in recreation and culture fell further (-1.5% vs. -1.0%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose sharply by 2.9% in July, up from a 0.2% increase in June.
Published on 2025-08-01

Pakistan Inflation Eases to 3.2% in June
Pakistan’s annual inflation rate eased to 3.2% in June from 3.5% in the previous month, broadly in line with the Finance Ministry’s projection of 3%–4%. The deceleration was driven by slower price increases in food and non-alcoholic beverages (2.6% vs. 3.1%), clothing and footwear (9.0% vs. 9.7%), and alcoholic beverages and tobacco (5.1% vs. 7.9%), alongside a deeper price decline in housing and utilities (-3.3% vs. -2.5%) and a reversal to deflation in recreation and culture (-1.0% vs. 1.3%). In contrast, inflation accelerated in restaurants and hotels (8.4% vs. 7.4%) and rebounded in transport (0.6% vs. -2.5%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.2% in June, reversing a 0.2% drop in the prior month.
Published on 2025-07-01

Pakistan Inflation Hits 5-Month High in May
Pakistan's annual inflation rate rose to 3.5% in May 2025, the highest in five months and a sharp rebound from the near six-decade low of 0.3% recorded in April. The figure significantly exceeded the Finance Ministry’s forecast of 1.5–2%, though it remains well below the record highs seen in recent years. The increase comes as Pakistan navigates a fragile recovery under the IMF’s $7 billion program, which has led to increased taxation and higher electricity tariffs. Upward pressure came from food and non-alcoholic beverage (3.1% vs. -4.8% in April), clothing and footwear (9.6% vs. 9.1%), restaurants and hotels (7.4% vs. 6.3%), and miscellaneous goods and services (15.4% vs. 13.8%), while price decreases moderated for both housing and utilities (-2.5% vs. -2.6%) and transport (-2.5% vs. -3.9%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices declined by 0.2% in May, following a 0.8% drop in April. It marked the first instance of two consecutive months of deflation since January 2021.
Published on 2025-06-02

Pakistan Inflation Rate Lowest Since 1968
The annual inflation rate in Pakistan eased for the sixth consecutive month to 0.3% in April 2025 from 0.7% in the previous month. This marked the lowest reading since August 1968, as deflation worsened for transport (-3.9% vs -1.2% in March) and housing and utilities (-2.6% vs -2.2%). Moreover, prices slowed for clothing and footwear (9.1% vs 13.5%) and education (10.9% vs 11.9%). Meanwhile, prices accelerated for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (7.9% vs 7.5%), furnishing and household equipment maintenance (4.0% vs 3.7%), health (14.2% vs 13.8%), recreation and culture (7.8% vs 7.7%), and miscellaneous goods and services (13.8% vs 13.4%). In addition, prices fell at a softer pace for food & non-alcoholic beverages (-4.8% vs -5.1%), particularly perishable food items (-26.7%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices dropped by 0.8% in April 2025, reversing a 0.9% rise in the previous month.
Published on 2025-05-02

Pakistan Inflation Rate Lowest Since 1968
The annual inflation rate in Pakistan eased for the fifth consecutive month to 0.7% in March 2025 from a 2015-low of 1.5% in the previous month. This marked the lowest reading since September 1968, as deflation worsened for food & non-alcoholic beverages (-5.1% vs -4.2% in February), particularly perishable food items (-30.2%). In addition, deflation continued for transport (-1.2% vs -1.1%) and housing and utilities (-2.2% vs -0.6%). Moreover, prices slowed for clothing and footwear (13.5% vs 13.8%), furnishing and household equipment maintenance (3.7% vs 4.5%), health (13.8% vs 14.3%), and recreation and culture (7.7% vs 8.4%). Meanwhile, prices accelerated for alcoholic beverages and tobacco (7.5% vs 6.7%), education (11.9% vs 10.9%), and miscellaneous goods and services (13.4% vs 12.8%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.9% in March 2025, rebounding from a 0.8% fall in the previous month.
Published on 2025-04-03

Pakistan Inflation Rate Lowest Since 2015
The annual inflation rate in Pakistan slowed for a fourth straight month to 1.5% in February 2025, the lowest level since September 2015, compared to 2.4% in the previous month. The reading came below Pakistan's finance ministry estimate of 2%-3%. The biggest downward pressure came from prices of food & non-alcoholic beverages declined (-4.2% vs -3.1% in January 2025), namely perishable items (-20.3%), and housing and utilities (-0.6% vs 1.5%). Transport prices also declined (-1.1% s 0.7%). On the other hand, the biggest upward impact came from cost of miscellaneous goods and services (12.8% vs 11.9%). Compared to January, the CPI in Pakistan went down 0.8%, the biggest drop in nine months, after a 0.2% rise in January.
Published on 2025-03-03

Pakistan Inflation Drops to Over 9-Year Low
Pakistan's annual inflation rate fell to 2.4% in January 2025, down from 4.1% in the previous month. This marked the lowest inflation rate since October 2015, mainly due to a slowdown in prices for housing & utilities (1.5% vs 3.4% in December 2024), communication (0.1% vs 12.2%), restaurants & hotels (7.6% vs 7.9%), and miscellaneous goods & services (11.9% vs 12.1%). At the same time, costs for food & non-alcoholic beverages declined (-3.1% vs 0.3%). Meanwhile, transport costs rebounded (0.7% vs -2.5%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased by 0.2% in January, following a 0.1% rise in the prior month.
Published on 2025-02-03

Pakistan Inflation Rate Lowest Since 2018
Pakistan's annual inflation rate eased further to 4.1% in December 2024, marking the lowest reading since April 2018, down from 4.9% in the previous month. Prices moderated particularly for housing & utilities (7.9% vs 3.4% in November), furnishing & household equipment maintenance (5.9% vs 5.2%), and miscellaneous (12.6% vs 12.1%). Moreover, costs continued to decline for transport (-2.8% vs -2.5%). Meanwhile, inflation increased for food & non-alcoholic beverages (0.3% vs -0.2%), health (13.3% vs 13.1%), and recreation & culture (7.7% vs 8%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose by 0.1%, following a 0.5% gain in the preceding period.
Published on 2025-01-02

Pakistan Inflation Lowest Since Mid-2018
Pakistan's annual inflation rate eased to 4.9% in November 2024, down from 7.2% in October, marking the lowest reading since April 2018. Prices declined for food and non-alcoholic beverages (-0.2% vs 0.9% in October) and rose at a much slower pace for housing and utilities (7.9% vs 19.2%). Additionally, inflation eased slightly for clothing and footwear (14.4% vs 14.6%) and transport prices fell at a slower rate (-2.8% vs -6.1%). In contrast, price growth accelerated for restaurants and hotels (8.3% vs 7.9%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased by 0.5%, following a 1.2% rise in October.
Published on 2024-12-02

Pakistan Inflation Rate Edges Up
Annual inflation rate in Pakistan rose to 7.2% in October 2024, up from 6.9% in September, which was the lowest rate since January 2021. Food and non-alcoholic beverage prices rebounded (0.9% vs -0.6% in September), with notable increases in pulse gram (72.37%), onions (38.13%), fish (33.06%), chicken (26.83%), and fresh vegetables (23.86%). Meanwhile, prices continued to climb for housing and utilities (19.2% vs 20.9%), clothing and footwear (14.6% vs 15.5%), and restaurants and hotels (7.9% vs 9.1%). Transport prices fell more moderately (-6.1% vs -7.3%). Significant price hikes were observed in gas (318.74%), motor vehicle tax (168.79%), dental services (29.23%), woolen garments (20.49%), cotton cloth (18.29%), hospital services (18.27%), footwear (17.42%), and transport services (16.42%). Month-over-month, the consumer price index increased by 1.2%. Pakistan's Finance ministry expects inflation to fall to 5.5-6.5% in November.
Published on 2024-11-01

Pakistan Inflation Lowest Since Early 2021
Inflation rate in Pakistan eased to 6.9% in September 2024, down from 9.6% in the previous month, marking the lowest reading since January 2021. Prices deflated for transport (-7.3% vs 3.2% in August 2024) and food & non-alcoholic beverages (-0.6% vs 2.5%). Moreover, prices rose at a slower rate for housing & utilities (20.9% vs 22.2%), clothing & footwear (15.5% vs 17.3%) and restaurants & hotels (9.1% vs 10.0%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices fell by 0.5%, following a 0.4% increase in the previous month.
Published on 2024-10-01

Pakistan Inflation Lowest Since Late 2021
Inflation rate in Pakistan eased to 9.6% in August 2024, down from 11.1% in the previous month, marking the lowest reading since October 2021. Prices eased for housing & utilities (22.2% vs 25.3% in July 2024), transportation (3.2% vs 12.2%), clothing & footwear (17.3% vs 18.2%) and restaurants & hotels (10% vs 11.2%). In contrast, food & non-alcoholic beverages prices accelerated (2.5% vs 1.6%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased by 0.4%, following a 2.1% increase in the previous month.
Published on 2024-09-02