THE cost of living is not merely measured through economic indicators but by the food left in the shopping bag, the fuel left in the motorcycle tank and the electricity bill that competes with rent and school fees. Inflation has forced households to reconsider their affordability capacity and focus on latest prices increase. Although annual consumer inflation eased from 11.1 percent in August to 10.26 percent in September 2026, yet prices continued to rise. The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics recorded a 1.27 percent month-on-month increase in the Consumer Price Index. Meanwhile, the weekly Sensitive Price Indicator rose by 0.57 percent in the week ended 8 October. Pakistan’s inflation trajectory has been volatile since 2022. The September CPI reading of 10.26 percent was lower than August’s 11.1 percent, but it remained substantially above the 5.8 percent recorded in September 2025.

During the first quarter of the 2026-27 financial year, inflation stood at 10.20 percent, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics. The weekly indicator provides a more immediate view of the pressure on essential purchases. For the week ended 1 October, the Sensitive Price Indicator rose by 11.53 percent year-on-year. The index covers 51 essential items across 50 markets in 17 cities, making it particularly relevant to ordinary households’ daily spending. These measures capture different aspects of inflation. The CPI covers a broader basket of goods and........

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