Pakistan’s September prices rise 10.26% as transport costs climb
Pakistan’s consumer prices rose 10.26 percent from a year earlier in September and 1.27 percent over the month. Transport prices increased 27.43 percent annually, well above the overall rate. Housing and energy prices also rose faster than the national index. Urban and rural baskets registered different annual increases, while electricity and motor fuel remained prominent sources of household price pressure. The average annual increase for July–September was 10.20 percent.
Economics & Markets··Night
Consumer inflation reaches 10.26%
Pakistan’s annual consumer inflation reached 10.26 percent in September. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the country’s official statistical agency, measured consumer prices across urban and rural baskets. Prices increased 1.27 percent over the month. The national consumer-price index reached 304.33, against 300.50 in August and 276.01 in September of the previous year. The average annual increase for July–September was 10.20 percent, a separate measure from September’s annual rate.[1], [2]
Transport prices rise faster than the overall index
Transport prices increased 5.75 percent over the month and 27.43 percent over the year. The housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels group rose 3.05 percent monthly and 12.39 percent annually. Food and non-alcoholic beverages increased 0.19 percent over the month and 8.20 percent annually. Health prices rose 7.88 percent from a year earlier. The groups have different weights in the national index, so their rates differ from the headline measure.[1]
Urban and rural price baskets diverge
Urban prices rose 1.31 percent monthly and 10.12 percent annually; rural prices increased 1.23 percent and 10.47 percent respectively. Rural onion prices rose 39.38 percent over the month, while tomatoes fell 27.87 percent. Rural electricity prices increased 15.28 percent and motor fuel 11.13 percent. The urban index tracks 356 items across 35 cities, while the rural index covers 244 items in 27 centres. The national measure weights 12 major expenditure groups.[1]
