Islamabad (Urdu Point / Pakistan Point News – April 1, 2026) Consumer price Inflation based on the index recorded 7.3% on an annual basis in March 2026, up from 7% recorded in February 2026, and 0.7% recorded in March 2025. Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.
According to details, urban CPI inflation rose by 7.4% year-on-year in March 2026 compared to an increase of 6.8% in the previous month and an increase of 1.2% in March 2025. On a monthly basis, it rose by 1.3% in March 2026 compared to an increase of 0.3% in the previous month and an increase of 0.8% in March 2025.
Rural CPI inflation rose by 7.2% YoY in March 2026 compared to an increase of 7.3% in the previous month and no change was observed in March 2025. On a monthly basis, it rose by 1.0% in March 2026 compared to an increase of 0.3% in the previous month and an increase of 1.1% in March 2025.
On a monthly basis, the Sensitive Inflation Index (SPI) increased by 5.6% in March 2026 compared to an increase of 4.8% in the previous month and a decrease of 2.3% in March 2025. On a monthly basis, it rose by 0.
7% in March 2026 compared to a decrease of 0.1% in the previous month and March 2025.
The wholesale price index increased year-on-year by 6.7% in March 2026 compared to an increase of
1.0% in the previous month, and a decrease of 1.6% in March 2025. On a monthly basis, it increased by 5.9% in March 2026 compared to an increase of 0.7% in the previous month and an increase of 0.3% in March 2025.
Meanwhile, core inflation, measured by urban non-food and non-energy goods, rose 7.4% year-on-year in March 2026 compared to an increase of 7.1% from the previous month and 8.2% in March 2025. On a monthly basis, it rose 0.7% in March 2026 compared to 0.2% in the previous month and an increase of 0.5% in the corresponding month of last year. That is, March 2025. 8.
Core inflation, measured by rural non-food and non-energy goods, rose 8.4% year-on-year in March 2026 compared to 8.3% in the previous month and an increase of 10.2% in March 2025. On a monthly basis, it rose 0.8% in March 2026 compared to 0.4% in the previous month and an increase of 0.7% in the corresponding month of last year. That is, March 2025.