Short-term inflation surges to 12.31pc due to costly food, LPG

Pakistan’s Sensitive Price Index (SPI) rose 12.31 per cent year-on-year in the week to Nov 5, with higher LPG and perishable food costs leading the increase, Dawn reported, citing Pakistan Bureau of Statistics data. The weekly measure edged up 0.29 per cent from the previous week; the report said it had remained in double digits for several weeks.

Prices climbed for 21 of the 51 items tracked, while 10 became cheaper and 20 were unchanged. Tomatoes rose 54.18 per cent week-on-week and LPG increased 3.72 per cent, whereas petrol fell 4.20 per cent and diesel 2.97 per cent. On an annual basis, LPG was up 114.88 per cent, while potato prices were down 37.24 per cent. Dawn linked persistent energy costs with pressure on food prices and household budgets.