Inflation will continue to hurt Pakistanis for next six months: EIU

ISLAMABAD: The Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has said that inflation will remain high in Pakistan for the next six months and the rupee is likely to continue on a depreciatory path despite a support package from Saudi Arabia.

The EIU’s assessment comes after data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) showed that the Consumer Price Index — a key marker of inflation — surged 9.2 percent year-on-year in October.

“Strengthening inflationary headwinds are being driven largely by rapid import growth, exacerbated by a surge in global commodity prices, as the economy recovers from the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic,” it said.

“We continue to expect that upward pressure on consumer prices will persist during the first half of 2022, as the global economic recovery is likely to keep commodity prices elevated,” the EIU said, adding that the rupee will continue on a depreciatory path despite short-term relief in the form of a financial assistance package from Saudi Arabia due to Pakistan's persistently wide trade deficit and strong inflationary pressures.

The pass-through effect of higher oil prices, the EIU said, is reflected in rising inflation in power and transportation.

“This was reflected in the transport category, which jumped by 14.4 percent year on year. Similarly, prices for utilities (comprising electricity, water and gas) also experienced double-digit growth, rising by 12 percent.”

The PBS data is in line with EIU’s view that consumer prices will remain elevated over the current and coming quarters (till the end of March 2022).

“They also support our estimate that the headline rate of inflation is likely to remain above 9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2021, and that consumer prices will increase by an average of 9.2 percent for the year as a whole (slightly slower than the 9.5 percent rate recorded in 2020).”

The EIU used its assessment to predict that the State Bank of Pakistan will raise rates again at its next monetary policy meeting on November 26.

“We maintain our forecast of an elevated inflation rate of 9.2% in 2021, eliciting further policy tightening from the SBP," it said.