Weekly inflation surges 11.53pc

Dawn reported that the short-term inflation gauge climbed 11.53 per cent over the year to the week ending October 1, with higher food prices as the main driver. Official data released on Friday also showed the Sensitive Price Index rising 0.21 per cent from the previous week. The weekly movement reflected price changes in both food and non-food items.

Chicken led the weekly gains with a 7.25 per cent rise, followed by garlic at 1.85 per cent and gram pulses at 1.30 per cent. LPG prices increased 1.17 per cent over the week, while diesel fell 3.43 per cent and petrol eased 0.65 per cent. Sugar and potatoes were among the items that became cheaper.

Dawn also said the state is keeping its petroleum development levy intact while lifting petrol and diesel rates each day, and that costlier energy is indirectly boosting sales tax collection. On an annual basis, onions rose 114.20 per cent and LPG 66.59 per cent, while tomatoes dropped 45.52 per cent. The index tracks 51 items gathered from 50 markets in 17 cities every week.