ISALAMABAD: The impact of an increase in petroleum product prices has started to become evident. Essential commodities are becoming more expensive, impacting the lower-income segment the most.
After a 0.25% decrease in the weekly inflation rate, the prices of essential commodities have once again started to rise. During the past week, the inflation rate increased by 0.93%, reaching a record level of 38.66% on an annual basis. Among the most affected are those with a monthly income ranging from Rs 29,518 to Rs 44,175, for whom inflation stands at 41%.
According to a report issued by the Federal Bureau of Statistics, during the recent week, prices of 22 essential commodities increased overall, while 11 essential commodities witnessed a decrease, and prices of 16 essential items remained stable.
On an annual basis, inflation has reached 38.99%. The report details that during the past week, chicken saw an 8.49% increase, garlic 5.19%, onions 3.02%, petrol 8.53%, diesel 5.54%, and mutton 1.42% inflation.
Furthermore, in the past week, tomatoes increased by 11.11%, tea leaves by 0.17%, sugar by 3.57%, potatoes by 1.89%, flour by 0.77%, jaggery by 0.62%, sesame oil by 0.45%, chickpeas by 0.18%, and vegetable ghee by 0.31%.
The statistics reveal that during the recent week, on a decimal basis, the inflation rate for income groups earning up to 17,732 rupees monthly increased by 38.27%, for those earning from 17,733 to 22,888 rupees monthly, inflation was 41%, for those earning from 22,889 to 29,517 rupees monthly, inflation stood at 39.84%, and for those earning above 44,176 rupees monthly, the inflation rate was 34.28%.
