Business Recorder
ISLAMABAD: The Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based inflation clocked in at 7.3 percent on a year-on-year (YoY) basis in March 2026, compared to 7.0 percent in the previous month and 0.7 percent in March 2025, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. Data released by PBS here on Wednesday revealed that on a month-on-month (MoM) basis, CPI increased by 1.2 percent in March 2026, compared to an increase of 0.3 percent in the previous month and an increase of 0.9 percent in March 2025. The YoY increase is the highest since August 2024, when the CPI was recorded at 9.6 percent. Cumulatively, on a July-March basis, the average CPI stands at 5.67 percent compared to 5.25 percent in the same period last year. READ MORE: Inflation in Pakistan clocks in at 7% in February 2026 According to the PBS, CPI inflation (urban) increased by 7.4 percent on a YoY basis in March 2026, as compared to an increase of 6.8 percent in the previous month and an increase of 1.2 percent in March 2025. On a Month-on-Month (MoM)basis, it increased by 1.3 percent in March 2026 as compared to an increase of 0.3 percent in the previous month and an increase of 0.8 percent in March 2025. CPI inflation (rural) increased by 7.2 percent on a YoY basis in March 2026, as compared to an increase of 7.3 percent in the previous month and no change observed in March 2025. On a MoM basis, it increased by 1 percent in March 2026 as compared to an increase of 0.3 percent in the previous month and an increase of 1.1 percent in March 2025. The PBS data showed that the SPI-based inflation, on a YoY basis, increased by 5.6 percent in March 2026 as compared to an increase of 4.8 percent in the previous month and a decrease of 2.3 percent in March 2025. On a MoM basis, it increased by 0.7 percent in March 2026 as compared to a decrease of 0.1percent in the previous month and March 2025. Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation, on a YoY basis, increased by 6.7percent in March 2026 as compared to an increase of 1 percent in the previous month and a decrease of 1.6 percent in March 2025. On a MoM basis, it increased by5.9percentin March 2026 as compared to an increase of 0.7percent in the previous month and an increase of0.3percent in March 2025. Core inflation (urban), measured by non-food, non-energy (NFNE), increased by 7.4 percent on a year-on-year (YoY) basis in March 2026, compared to 7.1 percent in the previous month and 8.2 percent in March 2025. On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, it increased by 0.7 percent in March 2026, compared to 0.2 percent in the previous month and 0.5 percent in March 2025. Core inflation (rural), measured by NFNE, increased by 8.4 percent on a YoY basis in March 2026 as compared to 8.3 percent the previous month and an increase of 10.2 percent in March 2025. On a MoM basis, it increased by 0.8 percent in March 2026 as compared to 0.4 percent in the previous month and an increase of 0.7 percent in the corresponding month of last year, i.e., March 2025. Urban core inflation (Trimmed),measured by 20 percent weighted trimmed mean, increased by 5.9 percent on a YoY basis in March 2026 as compared to 5.1 percent in the previous month and 4.8 percent in March 2025. On a MoM basis, it increased by 0.6 percent in March 2026 as compared to an increase of 0.2 percent a month earlier and an increase of 0.3 percent in the corresponding month of last year, i.e., March 2025. Measured by a 20 percent weighted trimmed mean, rural core inflation increased by 6.3 percent on a YoY basis in March 2026 as compared to an increase of 5.6 percent in the previous month and 4.8 percent in March 2025. On a MoM basis, it increased by 0.5 percent in March 2026 as compared to an increase of 0.3 percent in the previous month and an increase of 0.4 percent in the corresponding month of last year, i.e., March 2025. On account of the Urban Consumer Price Index (UCPI), on a MoM basis, the prices of the following food items witnessed an increase: Chicken 13 percent, fresh fruits 11.25 percent, fresh vegetables 5.01percent, pulse mash 2.78 percent, meat 1.53 percent, sweetmeat 1.49 percent, bakery and confectionary 0.72 percent, dry fruits 0.66 percent and wheat products 0.57 percent. While prices of the following food items registered a reduction. Tomatoes 29.16 percent, Eggs 17.98 percent, potatoes 12.02 percent, Wheat 5.48 percent, besan 3.90 percent, beverages 3.47 percent, gram whole 3.35 percent, wheat flour 2.83 percent, sugar 2.11 percent, onions 1.53 percent, pulse masoor1.37 percent, and cooking oil 1.19 percent. Prices of the following non-food items increased: Motor Fuel 18.01 percent, Liquefied Hydrocarbons 12.63 percent, transport services 9.15 percent, electricity charges 5.08 percent, major tools & equipment 3.21 percent, accommodation services 2.92 percent, electrical appliances for personal 2.46 percent, postal services 2.15 percent, tailoring 2.04 percent, education 1.29 percent, mechanical services 1.29percent and plastic products 0.92percent. On a YoY basis, the prices of the following few food commodities witnessed an increase: Wheat 34.24 percent, wheat flour 23.64 percent, butter 14.13 percent, meat 11.21 percent, dessert preparation 10.43percent, milk powder 9.50 percent, condiments and spices 9.30 percent, dry fruits 8.9 percent, fish 8.27 percent, wheat products 8.15 percent, gur 7.68 percent, pan prepared 7.49 percent, rice 5.92 percent, fresh fruits 5.91 percent, sweetmeat 5.87 percent, bakery and confectionary 5.22 percent, readymade food 4.24 percent, milk products 2.96 percent, milk fresh 2.46 percent, vegetable ghee 2.08 percent, cooking oil 2percent, cigarettes 1.75 percent and pulse mash 1.18 percent. While Prices of the following food commodities witnessed a decrease: Potatoes 43.17percent, eggs 24.95 percent, chicken 20.34 percent, besan 18.92 percent, pulse gram 18.64 percent, gram whole 17.07 percent, sugar 11.79 percent, pulse masoor11.76 percent, beans 7.83 percent, tomatoes 5.41 percent, fresh vegetables 4.89percent, onions 3.98 percent, pulse moong 3.7 percent and tea 0.96 percent. The prices of the following non-food items witnessed an increase: Personal Effects 56.52 percent, liquefied hydrocarbons 23.46 percent, gas charges 22.91 percent, motor fuel 18.22 percent, postal services 14.98 percent, electricity charges 14.22 percent,and newspapers 11.93 percent. While only the price of textbooks witnessed a reduction of 9.60 percent. On account of the Rural CPI, on MoM prices, the following food commodities witnessed an increase. Fresh fruits 14.68 percent, fresh vegetables 6.84percent, chicken 6.76 percent, pulse mash 2.07 percent, meat 1.62 percent, cooking oil 1.09 percent, pulse moong 1.08 percent, vegetable ghee 1.07percent, sweetmeat 0.83 percent, and honey 0.78 percent. While a decrease was recorded in the prices of following commodities: Tomatoes 27.47 percent, eggs 20.69 percent, potatoes 18.02 percent, besan 5.34 percent, wheat 4.88 percent, wheat flour 4.29 percent, pulse gram 3.47 percent, beverages 3.24 percent, gram whole 2.83 percent, sugar 2.16 percent, beans 1.85 percent, pulse masoor1.81 percent, gur 1.60 percent and onions 1.38 percent. On account of RCPI prices of the following non-food items witnessed an Increase: Motor fuels 19.3 percent, Liquefied Hydrocarbons 13.79 percent, electricity charges 5.08 percent, transport services 4.73 percent, plastic products 2.93 percent, tailoring 2.72 percent, footwear 2.06 percent, major tools and equipment 1.89 percent, construction input items 1.85 percent, bopatta 1.46 percent, and cotton cloth 1.41 percent. While a decrease was registered in recreation and culture, 1.23 percent. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026
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