NPMC informed: WPI-based inflation jumps 13.3pc YoY

By ISLAMABAD: The inflation based on Wholesale Price Index (WPI) jumped 13.3 percent year-on-year, while weekly consumer-price inflation climbed 11.53 percent in the week ended October 1, the National Price Monitoring Committee (NPMC) was informed on Thursday. Major annual increases were recorded in onions, LPG, electricity, diesel, petrol and wheat flour, while chicken, garlic, gram pulse and LPG recorded notable weekly increases. Chairing the NPMC meeting, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal reviewed inflation trends, wholesale-retail price gaps, essential commodity prices and progress on earlier decisions. He expressed serious concern over rising prices of essential commodities, particularly wheat flour, and directed provincial and district administrations to strengthen monitoring of supplies, market arrivals, hoarding, profiteering and unjustified price increases. The meeting was informed that Consumer Price Index (CPI) inflation stood at 10.3 percent year-on-year in September 2026, compared to 11.1 percent in August, while average inflation during July-September FY2026-27 stood at 10.2 percent. The WPI inflation increased to 13.3 percent year-on-year, while weekly SPI for the week ended October 1 recorded an 11.53 percent year-on-year increase. The minister directed the concerned authorities to compare current transport fares with fares prevailing after the previous fuel price increase to determine whether the increase in fuel prices had resulted in any disproportionate rise in fares. He also directed the Ministry of National Food Security and Research to examine why DAP prices remained high in Pakistan despite a decline in international prices, stressing that the benefit of lower international prices should be reflected in the domestic market. Iqbal directed that the inspection and quality assessment report regarding ghee, edible oil and milk products be submitted within one week. He said that if the industry had proposed third-party validation, its cost should be borne by the industry and not the government. He also directed provincial governments to closely monitor wholesale and retail prices and take enforcement action where unjustified gaps existed, particularly in major markets including Lahore and Karachi. He also called for close monitoring of supply chains and distribution costs to prevent disproportionate pass-through of fuel price increases to essential food prices. Iqbal further directed authorities to strengthen measures against hoarding, profiteering and overcharging and ensure uninterrupted supplies of essential commodities, particularly wheat flour, onions and other perishables. He also directed OGRA to take effective measures to reduce the gap between notified and prevailing market prices of LPG cylinders. He stressed that price monitoring should focus not only on statistics but also on identifying the causes of price increases, addressing market distortions and ensuring timely enforcement to protect consumers. Copyright Business Recorder, 2026