Pakistan’s inflation rate, measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose to 6.24% in October from 5.6% in September, driven mainly by higher food and energy costs, according to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS). The average inflation for the first four months of FY26 reached 4.73% compared to the same period last year. On a monthly basis, CPI increased by 1.83% in October, with rural areas hit hardest as inflation rose by 2.26%, while urban areas saw a 1.54% rise. PBS noted that prices increased across most categories, except recreation and culture, which dropped by 3.7%.