Pakistan's consumer inflation slows to 10.3% in September, driven by food price drop

The Pakistan Bureau of Statistics reported that the consumer price index dropped to 10.3% in September, easing from the higher level recorded the month before. Rural inflation fell more sharply than urban, with both sectors seeing modest declines. The main driver was a sharp reduction in food price growth, while non-food items like electricity and transport costs rose, keeping pressure on household budgets.

Electricity charges increased by over 15% month-on-month, and motor fuel prices rose by more than 10% in cities. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy, also slipped slightly in both urban and rural areas.