August Inflation Gallops To 27.26%, Shatters 49-year Record

August Inflation Gallops To 27.26%, Shatters 49-year Record
Owing to an increase in petrol and food prices, inflation measured through the Consumer Price Index (CPI) surged to 27.26 per cent year-on-year (YoY) in August, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics’ (PBS) data revealed on Thursday.

Inflation in urban and rural areas increased to 26.24pc and 28.70pc year-on-year respectively while the CPI showed an increase of 2.45pc on a month-on-month basis. The annual inflation was measured at 24.93pc last month.

The CPI inflation had clocked in at 8.4pc in August last year.

Index-wise increase in inflation YoY:

  • Transport: 63.08pc

  • Perishable food items: 33.85pc

  • Non-perishable food items: 28.25

  • Housing and utilities: 27.57pc

  • Restaurants and hotels: 27.43pc

  • Alcoholic beverages and tobacco: 25.78pc

  • Furnishing and household equipment maintenance: 21.86pc

  • Recreation and culture: 21.78pc

  • Miscellaneous goods and services: 19.97pc

  • Clothing and footwear: 17.63pc

  • Health: 11.89pc


Economic experts believe that August inflation was the highest since 1973-1974. Prices of fruits and vegetables have soared across the country with the monsoon deluge disrupting supply.