Inflation rises to 7.3 percent in March, PBS data shows

Pakistan’s inflation, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), was recorded at 7.3 percent on a year-on-year (YoY) basis in March 2026, according to data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). 

The figure increased from 7.0 percent in February 2026 and 0.7 percent in March 2025.

On a month-on-month (MoM) basis, CPI rose by 1.2 percent in March, compared to an increase of 0.3 percent in the previous month and 0.9 percent in the same month last year.

PBS stated that the YoY increase is the highest since August 2024, when inflation was recorded at 9.6 percent. On a cumulative basis, average CPI during July to March stood at 5.67 percent, compared to 5.25 percent in the corresponding period last year.

According to the data, urban inflation increased by 7.4 percent YoY in March 2026, compared to 6.8 percent in February and 1.2 percent in March 2025. On a monthly basis, it rose by 1.3 percent.

Rural inflation was recorded at 7.2 percent YoY, compared to 7.3 percent in the previous month and no change in March 2025. On a monthly basis, it increased by one percent.

PBS reported that Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI)-based inflation rose by 5.6 percent YoY in March 2026, compared to 4.8 percent in February, while it had declined by 2.3 percent in March 2025. On a monthly basis, SPI increased by 0.7 percent.

Wholesale Price Index (WPI)-based inflation was recorded at 6.7 percent YoY, compared to one percent in the previous month and a decline of 1.6 percent in March 2025. On a monthly basis, it increased by 5.9 percent.

Core inflation in urban areas, measured by non-food, non-energy (NFNE), was recorded at 7.4 percent YoY, compared to 7.1 percent in February and 8.2 percent in March 2025. On a monthly basis, it increased by 0.7 percent.

Rural core inflation stood at 8.4 percent YoY, compared to 8.3 percent in the previous month and 10.2 percent in March 2025. On a monthly basis, it increased by 0.8 percent.

Trimmed core inflation in urban areas rose by 5.9 percent YoY, while rural trimmed core inflation increased by 6.3 percent. On a monthly basis, these increased by 0.6 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively.

PBS data showed that on a monthly basis, prices increased for several food items, including chicken by 13 percent, fresh fruits by 11.25 percent, vegetables by 5.01 percent, pulse mash by 2.78 percent, and meat by 1.53 percent.

Prices declined for tomatoes by 29.16 percent, eggs by 17.98 percent, potatoes by 12.02 percent, wheat by 5.48 percent, and sugar by 2.11 percent.