Sept CPI inflation up 10.3pc YoY

Business Recorder reported that Pakistan's CPI-based inflation rose 10.3 percent year on year in September 2026, based on data the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics released on Thursday. The figure eased from 11.1 percent in August but stood far above the 5.8 percent recorded in September 2025. Month on month, prices climbed 1.3 percent, slightly faster than the 1.2 percent gain in August.

The urban index recorded 10.1 percent annual inflation, down from 10.4 percent in August, whereas the rural measure slowed to 10.5 percent from 12.2 percent. Non-food, non-energy inflation eased to 8.6 percent in urban areas and 8.1 percent in rural areas. Wholesale prices, measured by the Wholesale Price Index, rose 13.3 percent year on year, up from 11.8 percent in the previous month.

Monthly increases were led by electricity charges, up 15.28 percent, and motor fuel, up 10.76 percent, while tomatoes fell 24.67 percent. On an annual basis, onions were 125.48 percent higher, with wheat and wheat flour up 40.96 percent and 31.71 percent respectively. At the wholesale level, motor spirit prices rose 12.40 percent month on month.