Inflation in Pakistan Rises Above 6% in October Amid Surge in Food Prices

Islamabad: Pakistan’s inflation rate climbed above 6% in October 2025, driven by higher prices of essential commodities including flour, chicken, eggs, and vegetables. According to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), the annual inflation rate for October was recorded at **6.24%**, compared to **5.6% in September** and **7.2% in October last year**.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for urban areas stood at **6%**, up from **5.5%** in September, while rural inflation rose to **6.6%** from **5.8%** a month earlier. Last year, inflation in urban areas was **9.3%**, and **4.2%** in rural regions.

The Sensitive Price Index (SPI), which tracks weekly changes in essential goods, was recorded at **4.8%** for October, compared to **4.5% in September** and **9.7%** a year earlier. The Wholesale Price Index (WPI) rose to **1.1%**, up from **0.6%** in September.

Core inflation (non-food, non-energy) in urban areas increased to **7.5%**, while in rural areas it reached **8.4%**, reflecting continued underlying price pressures.

Price analysis showed that during October, **chicken prices fell by 21.52%**, **potatoes by 2.36%**, and **gram lentils by 1.74%**, while prices of **construction materials** and **honey** showed marginal decreases.

Conversely, **tomato prices surged by 58.64%**, **onions by 18.71%**, **fresh vegetables by 12.22%**, **wheat by 10.51%**, **flour by 5.49%**, and **eggs by 4.22%**. Energy and service-related costs also rose, with **electricity prices up 8.78%**, **postal services 6.10%**, and **transportation 2.93%**.

The PBS report indicates that persistent increases in food and utility costs remain key contributors to the inflationary trend despite relative stability in wholesale prices.