A marked increase in weekly inflation has been recorded ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr.
The annual inflation rate has crossed seven per cent, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). Prices of 18 essential items rose during the past week, the report said.
Tomatoes became costlier by 25 per cent, while live broiler chicken rose by 7.33 per cent. Bread, eggs, beef, potatoes, energy savers, firewood and cigarettes also registered an increase in prices.
On an annual basis, the price of wheat flour rose by up to 24.46 per cent. Over the past year, red chillies rose by 15.20 per cent, while beef increased by 11.72 per cent.
During the same period, the price of powdered milk rose by 10 per cent and mutton by 9.61 per cent. Compared with last year, diesel prices rose by 30 per cent, while petrol increased by up to 25.75 per cent.
In Islamabad, gas charges also rose by up to 30 per cent over the year, the PBS said. The liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) became costlier by 23.86 per cent on an annual basis.
