Islamabad: More than half of the consumer price index (CPI) items in Pakistan have experienced a price increase of over 5%, while nearly one-third have become cheaper compared to the previous year, according to recent analysis by Gallup Pakistan Digital Analytics. The study, which utilized item-level data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, compared prices from January 2025 to January 2024, revealing a detailed perspective on inflation beyond the headline figures.

According to Gilani Research Foundation, the analysis of 39 CPI basket items highlighted that 21 items (53.8%) showed a price increase of more than 5%, while three items (7.7%) registered a price hike of between 1% and 5%. Additionally, three items (7.7%) showed an increase of less than 1%, and 12 items (30.8%) exhibited negative growth, indicating disinflation.

The report underscores that the inflationary pressure is uneven, with significant price hikes in products such as tomatoes, potatoes, sandals, and pulses. Conversely, items like wheat, onions, chicken, and electricity charges experienced noticeable price declines. This disparity illustrates the importance of structured item-level analysis to understand the broader inflation narrative, as people often recall price increases more vividly than declines.

Opinions on data quality may vary; however, in the absence of an alternative CPI, systematic analysis provides a more comprehensive understanding than anecdotal evidence. While inflation has cooled in several essential categories, price pressures remain concentrated in certain products. The report suggests that the future policy focus should be on maintaining price stability while promoting economic growth without reigniting inflation. The analysis was conducted and released by Gallup Pakistan Digital Analytics and draws on data compiled by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.