Pakistan's Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) surged 12.31% year-on-year for the week ending November 5, 2026, driven by soaring energy prices and ongoing Middle East tensions. The SPI reached 374.61, up from 333.55 in the same week last year, highlighting the persistent financial strain on households. The sharpest increases were seen in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), which jumped 114.88%, followed by electricity charges for the lowest-income group, which rose 52.38%. High-speed diesel and petrol also saw significant hikes of 39.27% and 36.34%, respectively.
Food prices contributed to the inflation as well, with tomatoes rising 78.89%, wheat flour increasing 33.95%, and chicken climbing 31.81%. On a week-on-week basis, the SPI increased by a more modest 0.29%, with tomatoes leading the weekly gains at 54.18%. Despite some relief from a 4.20% drop in petrol prices and a 2.97% decline in diesel, the overall cost pressures remained high. Out of 51 essential items tracked, prices of 21 items rose, 10 declined, and 20 stayed unchanged.
The impact of inflation varied across different income groups. The lowest expenditure quintile (Q1) experienced a 0.86% weekly increase and a 10.15% year-on-year rise, while the highest quintile (Q5) saw a 0.10% weekly gain but a higher 12.75% annual increase. The combined year-on-year reading of 12.31% underscores the heavy burden of energy-driven costs on household budgets amid regional supply and price risks.
Pakistan's Consumer Price Index (CPI) eased slightly to 9.6% year-on-year in October, down from 10.3% in September, but still higher than the 6.2% recorded in October 2025. Urban inflation declined to 9.5%, while rural inflation stood at 9.8%. However, monthly inflation accelerated in rural areas to 1.5%, compared to 0.8% in urban areas. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) rose to 13.8% year-on-year in October 2026, up from 13.3% in September and 1.1% a year earlier.