The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation jumped to 31.4% in September from the increase of 27.4% in the previous month of the current year.
Monthly inflation in September: In the food industry, during September, the cost of sugar rose by 89.95%, the cost of wheat flour by 81.29%, the cost of condiments and spices by 78.77%, the cost of tea by 73.03%, and the cost of gur by 68.98%.
Similar price increases were seen for rice (64.71%), beans (56.07%), dry fruits (49.56%), beverages (45.61%), milk powder (39.53%), pulse mash (36.39%), prepared foods (35.29%), and potatoes (34.55%).
In the non-food sector, petrol prices rose by 62.82%, textbook prices rose by 101.78%, and electricity rates significantly increased during the month under review. Other commodities like washing detergent, stationery, home goods, newspapers, and motor fuel all experienced price increases.
When comparing one month to the next, CPI inflation jumped to 2% in September 2023 as opposed to 1.7% in the prior month and 1.2% in September 2022.
In September 2023, urban CPI inflation climbed by 29.7% on an annual basis, compared to increases of 25% the previous month and 21.2% in September 2022.
On a monthly basis, it rose to 1.7% in September 2023 after rising by 1.6% the month before and falling by 2.1% in September 2022.
In September 2023, the rural CPI climbed by 33.9% on an annual basis, up from 26.1% in September 2022 and 30.9% in the month before.
In September 2023, it grew to 2.5% month over month, up from 0.2% in September 2022 and a rise of 1.9% in the month before.