Measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), the inflation increased 4.57% in December 2017 against 4% a month earlier, reported the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Monday. The inflation rate was the highest since April 2017 when it had been recorded at 4.8%. Owing to the pick-up in December’s inflation rate, average inflation in the first half of current fiscal year (July-December 2017) rose 3.8%. However, independent economists say the overall inflation rate will remain in single digit in the short term. Overall, the rates of non-perishable food items increased 2.3% and perishable food items saw a surge of almost 23%.

Source: The Express Tribune January 01, 2018 15:08 UTC