Pakistan Market Monitor Report – March 2024: A Detailed Analysis of Pakistan’s Market Situation


Published on: April 26, 2024.

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Rewritten Article:

CPI-Based Annual Headline Inflation Declines to 23.1% in February 2024

In February 2024, the Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based annual headline inflation showed a decline to 23.1% compared to the 31.5% recorded in February 2023. This decrease brings some relief to the economy, although inflation remains a concern.

Annual Food Inflation Remains Elevated at 18% in February 2024

Despite the overall decline in inflation, annual food inflation remains high at 18%. This is driven by various factors, including heightened production costs, soaring energy and utility expenses, and steep fuel prices impacting food transportation. These factors contribute to the increase in prices of essential food items.

Price Variations for Staple Cereals

In the cereal market, rice prices have witnessed an uptick. Specifically, Irri-6 rice prices have increased by 1.8% while Basmati prices have gone up by 0.7%. On the other hand, subsidized wheat flour and wheat have experienced a decline in prices. Overall, when compared to the previous year, significant year-on-year increases were observed across different varieties of rice and wheat products.

Fluctuations in Non-Cereal Food Prices

Aside from cereals, there have also been fluctuations in non-cereal food prices. Live chicken and select pulses have seen slight increases, while sugar, eggs, and pulses have experienced significant year-on-year spikes in prices. However, there have been significant decreases in the price of eggs, along with negligible decreases for certain items compared to prices in January 2024.

Terms of Trade (ToT) Analysis

The Terms of Trade (ToT) analysis shows a monthly improvement of 4.8%. This indicates a positive trend in the trade balance, which can have a favorable impact on the overall economy.

Conclusion

While there has been a decline in the CPI-based annual headline inflation, food inflation remains a concern. The increase in rice prices, along with fluctuations in non-cereal food prices, highlights the challenges in the market. However, the improvement in the Terms of Trade (ToT) indicates some positive developments. It is important for policymakers to address the underlying causes of inflation and implement measures to stabilize prices.

For more information on rice exports and supplies, you can visit the following links:
– Rice exporters: [rice exporters link](https://www.hasrice.com)
– Pakistan rice exporters: [pakistan rice exporters link](https://www.pakistanrice.com)
– White broken rice: [white broken rice link](https://www.brokenrice.com)
– Pakistan rice: [pakistan rice link](https://www.pakistanrice.com)
– Rice suppliers: [rice suppliers link](https://www.hasrice.com)
– Rice exporters from Pakistan: [rice exporters from pakistan link](https://www.hasrice.com)
– 25% broken rice: [25% broken rice link](https://www.hasrice.com/pakistan-rice-suppliers/irri6-rice-exporters/white-rice-25pct-broken/)
– Pakistan rice supplier: [pakistan rice supplier link](https://www.hasrice.com)
– Pakistan rice companies: [pakistan rice companies link](https://www.hasrice.com)
– Rice mills in Pakistan: [rice mills in pakistan link](https://www.hasrice.com)
– Rice business in Pakistan: [rice business in pakistan link](https://www.hasrice.com)
– Rice suppliers Pakistan: [rice suppliers pakistan link](https://www.pakistanrice.com)
– Pakistani rice prices: [pakistani rice prices link](https://www.hasrice.com/pakistan-rice-prices/)
– Irri 6 rice price: [irri 6 rice price link](https://www.hasrice.com/pakistan-rice-prices/)
– Basmati rice price list: [basmati rice price list link](https://www.hasrice.com/pakistan-rice-prices/)
– Rice export from Pakistan: [rice export from pakistan link](https://www.hasrice.com)
– Pakistan rice export prices: [pakistan rice export prices link](https://www.hasrice.com/pakistan-rice-prices/)
– Rice exporters in Pakistan: [rice exporters in pakistan link](https://www.hasrice.com/pakistan-rice-exporters/)
– Irri 6 rice exporters Pakistan: [irri 6 rice exporters pakistan link](https://www.hasrice.com/pakistan-rice-suppliers/irri6-rice-exporters/)
– Rice suppliers in Karachi: [rice suppliers in karachi link](https://www.hasrice.com/pakistan-rice-export-company/)
– Basmati rice Pakistan: [basmati rice pakistan link](https://www.hasrice.com/pakistan-rice-suppliers/1121-basmati-rice-exporters/)
– Broken rice exporters: [broken rice exporters link](https://www.hasrice.com/pakistan-rice-suppliers/irri6-rice-exporters/white-rice-100pct-broken/)

**Source:** [ReliefWeb](https://reliefweb.int)