Pakistan PM hails negative SPI inflation, says economic indicators improving
ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed satisfaction over the annual decline in Pakistan's Sensitive Price Index (SPI), which he said had fallen to -3.52% in April 2025, compared to 26.94% in the same month last year.
The SPI measures weekly changes in the prices of essential items such as food, fuel and utilities across various consumption groups. Unlike the broader Consumer Price Index (CPI), which captures overall inflation, the SPI focuses on short-term price movements that affect low- and middle-income households most directly.
'The [SPI] rate stood at 26.94% in the same month last year, whereas in April 2025, it has been recorded at minus 3.52%,' the prime minister said in a statement issued by his office.
'The country's economic indicators are improving with each passing day,' he added. 'The government is making every effort to ensure that the benefits of these improving economic indicators reach the public.'
Sharif also commended his economic team for their efforts in stabilizing the economy and curbing inflation.
In May 2023, Pakistan experienced its highest recorded inflation, with the CPI reaching 38% year-on-year, driven by surging food and energy prices.
The recent decline in the SPI indicates potential relief for consumers, though the government continues to face challenges in managing the economy, including meeting fiscal targets and securing external financing.
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