Inflation rate stayed above target at . per cent in August data showed on Friday . Food inflation remained elevated at .pc yearonyear . Annual consumer inflation in urban and rural areas increased to pc and .pc . The worst year-on-year increase was recorded in the categories of alcoholic beverages and tobacco .
Authorities raised petrol and diesel prices to record highs on Friday in response to higher power tariffs . The worsening economic conditions along with rising political tensions have triggered sporadic protests . The JamaatiIslami has called for a countrywide strike on Saturday .
Ordinary citizens say they are struggling to make ends meet . The State Bank said in its last monetary policy statement in July when it held benchmark interest rates likewise at pc that it expected inflation to remain on a downward path over the following months .
Inflation is in line with expectations. But the falling rupee and rising energy prices mean that we may not see a big decline in inflation year on year as was expected earlier he added. Mohammed Sohail CEO of Topline Securities said the rising energy costs meant that we could not expect inflation to fall to pc by the end of the fiscal year that runs to June while analysts had predicted inflation to range from pc to pc .
to pc. Inflation to range between pc and pc . Analysts had predicted that inflation to ranges frompc topc. In the past year-to-year-on year-for-year year-upon-year on-year. In August, analysts had expected inflation was in line-upon year on- year year-off year-over- year-one-year .
In August. In September, the State Bank. In July, the inflation rate is expected to be in line to PC.
