Inflation measured by the Sensitive Price Index (SPI) continued to climb in the week that ended on August 25, jumping to a record 44.58 per cent year-on-year.

Data shared by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) on Friday showed that the index rose due to higher prices of essential food items — tomatoes, onions, pulses and cooking oil — and fuel.

Prior to this, the highest year-on-year weekly inflation figure was 42.3pc, which was recorded for the week ending on Aug 18.

The latest data showed that the SPI increased 1.83pc week-on-week. It had risen 3.35pc last week.

The SPI monitors prices of 51 essential items based on a survey of 50 markets in 17 cities of the country.

During the week under review, the prices of 23 items increased; seven items saw a decrease in prices while for 21 items they remained unchanged.

Highest year-on-year increase

• Tomatoes: 178.1pc
• Onions: 155.14pc
• High speed diesel: 108.77pc
• Petrol: 94.53pc
• Pulse Masoor: 90.74pc
• Cooking oil (5 litres): 70.61pc

Highest week-on-week increase

• Tomatoes: 43.09pc
• Onions: 41.13pc
• Potatoes: 6.32pc
• Eggs: 3.43pc
• Cigarettes: 2.26pc
• Garlic: 2.23pc

Highest week-on-week decrease

• Pulse Masoor: -1.18pc
• Ghee (1kg): -1pc
• Ghee (2.5kg): -0.82pc
• Bananas: -0.61pc
• Cooking oil (5 litres): -0.51pc
• Sugar: -0.28pc