Flour and Sugar Prices Rise as Inflation Records Further Increase

**Islamabad:** The weekly inflation rate has increased for the second consecutive week, reflecting a further rise in the cost of living. According to official data, inflation rose by 0.25 percent over the past week.

A report released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) stated that the annual inflation rate on a weekly basis reached 3.87 percent. During the week under review, prices of 13 essential commodities increased, while prices of 13 others declined.

The report highlighted that tomatoes became more expensive by Rs18 per kilogram, while a 20-kilogram bag of wheat flour rose by Rs76.78. Egg prices increased by Rs7 per dozen, and the price of a domestic LPG cylinder surged by Rs240.59.

Other items registering price hikes included firewood, sugar, and infant milk. On the other hand, prices of potatoes and onions declined by Rs3 per kilogram each, while chicken prices dropped by up to Rs7.44 per kilogram. Additionally, salt, jaggery, rice, and pulses such as mash and masoor also recorded a decrease in prices.

The continued rise in essential food items such as flour and sugar has added to public concerns, as inflationary pressures further impact household budgets across the country.