Australia Q2 inflation surprises on low side, heralds rate cut
The Australian Bureau of Statistics' consumer price index (CPI) rose 0.7% in the June quarter, under forecasts of a 0.8% increase. Annual CPI inflation dipped to 2.1%, from 2.4%, and again below forecasts.
Finance ministry projects July inflation at 3.5-4.5% as price pressures ease
The key trimmed mean measure of core inflation increased by 0.6% in the quarter, under forecasts of a 0.7% gain.
The annual pace slowed to 2.7%, from 2.9%, taking it further into the Reserve Bank of Australia's 2% to 3% target band.
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Express Tribune
18 hours ago
- Express Tribune
Gas, sugar and footwear drive annual SPI higher
Listen to article The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) recorded a year-on-year (YoY) increase of 1.98% for the week ended July 31, 2025, reflecting mixed trends across essential commodities. Notable price hikes were seen in gas, sugar, pulses, beef and vegetable ghee, while non-food items like ladies' sandals registered the biggest increase of 55.62%. On a YoY basis, gas charges for the first quarter rose 29.85%, sugar 21.66%, pulse moong 14.27%, beef 14.16%, 2.5kg vegetable ghee 12.33%, 1kg vegetable ghee 11.95%, firewood 11.75%, gur 11.23%, eggs (10.94%), cooked beef (9.31%) and printed lawn (7.32%). In contrast, a major YoY decrease was observed in prices of onions (-49.32%), tomatoes (-42.31%), garlic (-23.78%), wheat flour (-22.90%), pulse mash (-21.40%), Lipton tea (-17.93%), potatoes (-15.95%), chicken (-11.71%), electricity charges for Q1 (-10.02%) and liquefied petroleum gas (LPG, -0.86%). The data, compiled from 50 markets across 17 cities, indicates continued volatility in food prices, though the headline weekly inflation showed some moderation due to seasonal and market-driven factors. The week-on-week inflation, measured through the SPI, fell 0.35% for the week ended July 31, 2025, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The decline was mainly driven by a significant drop in prices of perishable and essential food items, including tomatoes (-17.26%), chicken (-4.76%), bananas (-2.97%) and moong pulse (-1.55%). Prices of LPG (-1.39%) and wheat flour (-0.59%) also declined. Out of the 51 essential items tracked, prices of 12 items fell, 11 items recorded an increase and 28 items remained unchanged. Notable increases were seen in eggs (+1.80%), firewood (+1.11%) and cooked beef (+1.08%). The weekly SPI declined across all income groups, with the lowest quintiles (Q1 and Q2) seeing the biggest drop of 0.42%. However, on a YoY basis, lower- and middle-income groups faced higher inflation, with Q2 showing the largest annual increase of 2.80%, while the highest-income group (Q5) saw a smaller rise of 1.23%. The overall annual SPI rose 1.98%, reflecting continued pressure from rising prices of essentials like sugar, gas and pulses. Meanwhile, the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) recorded a YoY increase of 4.1% in July 2025, according to data released by the PBS and IIS Research. This marks a rise from the 3.2% growth recorded in June 2025 and a significant decline from the 11.1% inflation in July 2024. Key contributors to the CPI increase include a 0.89% rise in food and non-alcoholic beverages and a 3.56% increase in clothing and footwear. Housing and household furnishings saw a 3.56% uptick, while transport costs rose 2.72%. On a month-on-month basis, the CPI rose 2.92%. PBS data highlights a varied impact across sectors, with education, recreation and culture showing a moderate growth, while miscellaneous items surged 14.89% YoY. The overall headline CPI for July 2025 stood at 271.9 points, up from 261.3 in June.
Business Recorder
21 hours ago
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Jul CPI up by 4.1pc YoY
ISLAMABAD: Sugar prices soared by 29 percent in July 2025 on year-on-year basis and 6.11 percent on a month-on-month basis. Whereas, the inflation benchmark Consumer Price Index (CPI) increased by 4.1 percent in the first month of FY06. This was revealed in the monthly review on prices indices issued by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics on Friday. Inflation benchmark CPI increased by 4.1 percent in July 2025 on year-on-year (YoY) basis and on month-on-month (MoM) basis it increased by 2.9 percent in July 2025. June CPI inflation clocks in at 3.2pc YoY The CPI inflation Urban, increased to 4.4 percent on YoY basis and on month-on-month basis, it increased by 3.4 percent. Whereas the CPI inflation rural, increased by 3.5 percent on YoY basis and 2.2 percent on month-on-month basis. The Sensitive Price Index (SPI) inflation on YoY basis decreased by 0.9 percent, while on MoM basis increased by 3.1 percent. Whereas, Whole Price Index (WPI) inflation on YoY basis decreased by 0.5 percent in on MoM basis and it increased to 1.2 percent. Among the major food items prices, sugar prices increased by 29.43 percent on YoY basis and 6.11 percent on MoM basis, moong 19.49 percent on YoY basis and decreased by 0.59 percent on MoM basis, butter increased by 18.9 percent on YoY basis and 0.55 percent on MoM basis, honey up by 18.68 percent on YoY basis, condiments and spices increased by 14.95 percent on YoY basis and decreased by 0.97 percent on MoM basis, gur increased by 14.11 percent on YoY basis and 3.48 percent on MoM basis, vegetable ghee increased 12.29 percent on YoY basis and decreased by 0.03 percent on MoM basis, fresh fruits increased by 11.56 percent on YoY basis and reduced by 7.7 percent on MoM basis, meat prices increased by 11.14 percent on YoY basis and 0.61 percent on MoM basis, sweat meat increased by 10.29 percent on YoY basis, mustard oil increased 8.98 percent on YoY basis, chicken increased by 7.7 percent on YoY basis and 29.73 percent on MoM basis. Readymade food is up by 7.4 percent on YoY basis. Prices of fish increased by 7.25 percent and cooking oil by 7.05 percent on YoY basis. On YoY basis, tomatoes prices decreased by 47.61 percent, onions 47.36 percent, pulse mash 23.20 percent, wheat flour 21.52 percent, wheat 21.29 percent, tea 17.75 percent, wheat 21.29 percent, wheat products 9.98 percent, masoor 9.22 percent, potatoes 7.76 percent, pulse gram 6.53 percent, gram whole 4.82 percent, besan 2.97 percent and beans 1.60 percent. Among non-food items on YoY basis motor vehicle tax increased by 168.79 percent, gas charges 22.91 percent, water supply 13.86 percent, household textiles 13.45 percent, footwear 12.71 percent and drugs and medicines 12.27 percent. Whereas electricity charges decreased by 16.85 percent, text books 7.75 percent, liquified hydrocarbons 2.24 percent, washing soap, detergents and match box 2.19 percent and motor fuel 0.14 percent on YoY basis. According to PBS, measured by non-food non-energy urban core inflation increased to 7.0 percent and MoM basis it increased by 0.8 percent. Measured by non-food non-energy rural core inflation increased by 8.1 percent on YoY and on MoM basis it remained stable at 0.7 percent. Whereas, core urban trimmed inflation increased to 5.1 percent on YoY basis and on MoM basis it increased by 1.0 percent. The rural trimmed inflation increased by 4.9 percent on YoY basis and on MoM basis, it is increased by 0.7 percent. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
a day ago
- Business Recorder
Inflation in Pakistan clocks in at 4.1% in July 2025
Headline Inflation YoY Headline Inflation YoY Pakistan's headline inflation clocked in at 4.1% on a year-on-year (YoY) basis in July 2025, a reading higher than that of June 2025, when it had stood at 3.2%, showed Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) data on Friday. On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 2.9% in July 2025, as compared to an increase of 0.2% in the previous month and an increase of 2.1% in July 2024. CPI stood at 11.09% in July 2024. Inflation in Pakistan has been a significant and persistent economic challenge, particularly in recent years. In May 2023, the CPI inflation rate hit a record high of 38%. However, it has been on a downward trajectory since then. The CPI reading is in line with the government's expectations. The Finance Ministry in its monthly economic report expected inflation to ease to a range between 3.5-4.5% in July, citing stable prices and improved supply conditions, as price pressures ease further after the previous fiscal year's sharp decline. The ministry said the economy is expected to sustain its recovery in the early months of fiscal year 2026, underpinned by an improved macroeconomic backdrop and growing investor confidence. However, the latest CPI reading was higher than the projections made by several brokerage houses. Ismail Iqbal Securities projected Pakistan's headline inflation to lower to 3.1% in July. 'Inflation for Jul'25 is projected at 3.1%, a sharp decline from 11.1% in the same period last year, indicating continued easing in price pressures,' said the brokerage house. Urban, rural inflation The PBS said CPI inflation urban increased to 4.4% on year-on-year basis in July 2025, as compared to 3.0% in the previous month and 13.2% in July 2024. On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 3.4% in July 2025, as compared to 0.1% in the previous month and an increase of 2.0% in July 2024. CPI inflation rural increased by 3.5% on year-on-year basis in July 2025, as compared to an increase of 3.6% in the previous month and 8.1% in July 2024. On a month-on-month basis, it increased by 2.2% in July 2025, as compared to an increase of 0.5% in the previous month and an increase of 2.2% in July 2024.
