Pakistan, Dec. 20 -- Short-term inflation, measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI), rises 3.75 per cent year-on-year in the week ending December 18, driven by higher retail prices of edible oil, meat, and other essential commodities. The SPI has shown an upward trend for 20 consecutive weeks, mainly due to surges in perishable goods, chicken, pulses, LPG cylinders, and electricity prices.

Week-on-week, inflation increased 0.24 per cent, with the most notable price hikes seen in chicken (11.11pc), chili powder (3.08pc), eggs (2.88pc), shirting fabric (1.64pc), firewood (0.86pc), and cooking oil (0.32pc). Other items with modest increases included moong pulses, mustard oil, and fee-each rising between 0.23-0.31pc.

Conversely, several ...