March inflation cools to 0.7%, marking the lowest level in nearly 60 years
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A man walks with sacks of supplies on his shoulder to deliver to a nearby shop at a market in Karachi, Pakistan June 11, 2024.— Reuters
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KARACHI: Pakistan’s inflation has risen to its lower levels in about 60 60 years, with consumer price index (CPI) increased by only 0.7 % in March 2025.
According to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, consumer price Index (CPI) inflation increased by 0.7 percent (YOY) in March 2025, lower than 1.5 percent in the previous month and less than 20.7 percent in March 2024. (PBS)
Statistics show that CPI inflation increased by 0.9 % month (mother) in March 2025, compared to 0.8 % in the previous month.
ARIF Habib Limited (AHL) said in a report, “According to SBP data, this is the lowest reading after December 1965, ie 59 -year -olds.”
The average CPI inflation during 9MFY25 is 5.25 %, compared to 27.06 % in 9MFY24.
In March 2025, urban CPI inflation increased 1.8 percent in March 2025 and less than 21.9 percent in March 2024 (YOY) and 1.2 % monthly for urban CPI in March 2025, after 0.8 percent in the previous month.
Policy makers will likely welcome the constant moderation of headline CPI inflation. The State Bank of Pakistan will need to balance the need to support economic growth to maintain prices stability. In his meeting last month, the SBP decided to stop the reduction in interest, with the interest rate 12 %.
According to PBS, rural CPI inflation did not show any change in March 2025, while 1.1 percent in the previous month and 19.0 percent in March 2024. On a monthly basis, rural CPI inflation increased by 1.1 percent in March 2025, after a 1.1 percent decline in February 2025.
Sensitive price indicator (SPI) inflation was 2.3 percent year -on -year in March 2025, compared to 0.2 percent in the previous month. Statistics show that the wholesale price index (WPI) inflation has declined 1.6 percent year -on -year, followed by a decline of 0.7 percent in March 2024 and 14.8 percent in March 2024.
Statistics further revealed that national consumer prices index for March 2025 increased by 0.89 percent during February 2025 and 0.69 percent during March 2024. Food prices, which have the highest weight (34.6 %) in the CPI cart, is a major concern. The Food Index stood at 278.3 in March 2024, an increase of 5.1 % year year.
The monthly month, tomatoes (36.35 % in urban areas), fresh fruit (18.66 % in urban areas) and eggs (14.92 %) in urban areas saw a key increase. On the contrary, the prices of some foods have dropped, including onions (14.89 % in urban areas), tea (7.69 % in urban areas), and potatoes (6.83 % in urban areas).
Year by year, prices of commodities such as Plus Moong (31.02 % in urban areas) and butter (23.84 %) in urban areas increased substantially, while onions and tomatoes declined sharply. It highlights the constant struggle to handle their budgets among the increasing costs of eating homes.
Housing, which weighs 23.6 %, has also played an important role in overall inflation, which has increased 2.2 % year year. Transportation costs decreased by 1.2 % year by year, which provides some relief to consumers.
Fabrics and shoes, education and health increased by 13.5 %, 11.9 %, and 13.8 %, respectively.
Non -food, non -energy (NFNE) inflation in urban areas was 7.8 percent in February 2025 annually in March 2025 and 12.8 percent in March 2024. In March 2025, NFN inflation in rural areas was 10.2 % after 10.2 %, while 20.0 % and 20.0 % compared to 20.0 %.
Citizens carved inflation (20 % weight) increased by 4.8 percent year -on -year in March 2025, which was 4.6 percent in the first month and 14.8 percent in March 2024. Rural trims mean inflation (20 % weight) is 4.8 % annually in March 2025 and 5.2 % in March 2024 and in March 2024, 5.2 % and 18.4 %.
