SPI stays in double digits on costly fuel

Short-term inflation in Pakistan stayed in double digits, with the Sensitive Price Indicator up 11.38% year-on-year in the week ending October 15, 2026, The Express Tribune reported, citing the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. The index tracks 51 essential items across 50 markets in 17 cities and slipped 0.04% week-on-week to 372.43 from 372.58 a week earlier. A year earlier, the reading stood at 334.39.

Fuel and related costs drove most of the annual rise, with petrol up 49.60%, diesel up 43.98% and LPG up 68.95%, while electricity charges for Q1 climbed 58.59%. The newspaper linked these increases to the US-Iran war, disruption around the Strait of Hormuz and Houthi attacks affecting regional supply routes. The annual reading has held above 10% for several weeks in a row.

Weekly data showed 23 items rising, seven falling and 21 unchanged, with tomatoes down 23.05%. Onions posted the steepest annual rise at 75.19%, while tomatoes, potatoes, sugar and eggs were cheaper than a year earlier. The lowest expenditure group recorded an 8.19% annual rise, compared with 12.09% for the highest group.