United News of Bangladesh

Bangladesh’s point-to-point inflation rose to 9.42 per cent in May 2026, up from 9.04 per cent in April, driven mainly by higher food prices, according to the latest data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). The inflation rate was also slightly higher than the 9.05 per cent recorded in May, 2025. Data showed that food inflation increased significantly to 9.06 per cent in May from 8.39 per cent in April, while non-food inflation edged up to 9.71 per cent from 9.57 per cent during the same period. In May last year, food inflation stood at 8.59 per cent and non-food inflation at 9.42 per cent. The BBS said the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for May was prepared based on information collected from 154 markets across all 64 districts of the country. Inflation in rural areas climbed to 9.48 per cent in May, compared with 9.05 per cent in April and the same rate a year earlier. Rural food inflation rose to 8.95 per cent from 8.23 per cent in April, while non-food inflation increased to 9.98 per cent from 9.81 per cent. In May 2025, rural food and non-food inflation rates were 8.30 per cent and 9.75 per cent respectively. In urban areas, point-to-point inflation rose to 9.25 per cent in May from 9.02 per cent in April. However, it remained below the 9.50 per cent recorded in May last year. Urban food inflation increased to 9.29 per cent from 8.81 per cent in April, while non-food inflation rose to 9.24 per cent from 9.15 per cent. A year earlier, both food and non-food inflation rates in urban areas stood at 9.29 per cent and 9.63 per cent respectively. Despite the monthly increase, the 12-month moving average inflation rate continued to decline. The moving average inflation for the period from June 2025 to May 2026 was estimated at 8.63 per cent, down significantly from 10.13 per cent during the corresponding period from June 2024 to May 2025. The decline indicates a gradual easing of inflationary pressures on an annual basis, although monthly price increases remain elevated. Meanwhile, the national wage rate growth stood at 8.21 per cent on a point-to-point basis in May, marginally higher than 8.16 per cent recorded in April and unchanged from May 2025. Sector-wise, wage growth in agriculture, industry and services was recorded at 8.22 per cent, 8.15 per cent and 8.36 per cent respectively in May. In April, the corresponding rates were 8.19 per cent, 8.09 per cent and 8.31 per cent, while in May last year they were 8.43 per cent, 7.90 per cent and 8.45 per cent respectively. The BBS said the Wage Rate Index for May was prepared using data collected from all 64 districts. The latest figures indicate that while wages continued to grow modestly, the pace remained below the overall inflation rate, suggesting that many households are still facing pressure on their purchasing power amid persistently high living costs.  

Bangladesh’s point-to-point inflation rose to 9.13 percent in February, up from 8.58 percent in January due to a sharp increase in food prices, according to the latest data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). Food inflation climbed to 9.30 percent in February, compared with 8.29 percent a month earlier. Non-food inflation also rose slightly to 9.01 percent, up from 8.81 percent in January. Inflation remained higher in rural areas than in urban centres, reflecting continued pressure on food prices outside major cities. In rural areas, overall inflation increased to 9.21 percent in February, from 8.63 percent in January, though it was lower than 9.51 percent recorded in February last year. Rural food inflation rose to 9.07 percent, up from 8.18 percent in January, while rural non-food inflation increased to 9.34 percent, compared with 9.04 percent a month earlier. In urban areas, overall inflation rose to 9.07 percent in February, up from 8.57 percent in January. Urban food prices saw a sharper increase, with food inflation jumping to 9.87 percent, significantly higher than 8.61 percent in the previous month, indicating stronger price pressure in city markets. However, non-food inflation in urban areas remained relatively stable at 8.57 percent, slightly higher than 8.54 percent in January. Despite the month-on-month increase, the annual average inflation rate has eased significantly. The 12-month moving average inflation from March 2025 to February 2026 stood at 8.65 percent, down from 10.31 percent during the same period a year earlier, suggesting that overall price pressures have moderated compared with last year. Meanwhile, wage growth continued to lag behind inflation, raising concerns about declining purchasing power for workers. The national wage rate index increased by 8.06 percent in February on a point-to-point basis, slightly lower than 8.08 percent in January and 8.12 percent in February 2025. Sector-wise wage growth in February was 8.10 percent in agriculture, 7.99 percent in industry, and 8.20 percent in services. According to BBS, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for February was calculated based on data collected from 154 markets across all 64 districts of the country. Overall, the data indicate that inflationary pressure persists despite a gradual improvement in the annual average, with rising food prices continuing to drive the cost of living for consumers.  

The point-to-point inflation in Bangladesh edged up slightly to 8.36 percent in September, from 8.29 percent in August. According to data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on Monday, the rate was significantly higher at 9.92 percent during the same month last year. Inflation has now remained above 8 percent for more than three years since August 2022. The BBS data shows that both food and non-food inflation increased in September. Food inflation rose to 7.64 percent from 7.60 percent in August, while non-food inflation climbed to 8.98 percent from 8.90 percent. Inflation falls to 8.29% in August, lowest in over 3 years A year earlier, in September 2024, food inflation stood at 10.40 percent and non-food inflation at 9.50 percent. Rural areas experienced slightly higher inflationary pressure than urban areas last month. Rural inflation rose to 8.47 percent in September from 8.39 percent in August. In the same month last year, it was 10.15 percent. In rural regions, food inflation edged up to 7.54 percent from 7.50 percent, while non-food inflation increased to 9.40 percent from 9.28 percent. In urban areas, overall inflation inched up to 8.28 percent in September from 8.24 percent the previous month. Urban food inflation rose to 7.94 percent from 7.87 percent, while non-food inflation moved slightly higher to 8.51 percent from 8.49 percent. Meanwhile, the BBS data shows that the general wage growth rate slipped to 8.02 percent in September from 8.15 percent in August. In September last year, the rate was 8.01 percent — marking the 44th consecutive month that wage growth has trailed behind inflation.  

Bangladesh’s general inflation ratio in November 2022 dropped slightly to 8.85 percent (point to point). In last three months, the ratio of inflation dropped. In October, the inflation rate was 8.91 percent, while September saw an inflation rate of 9.1 percent. Fuel price hike in August pushed the point-to-point inflation in a decade-highest 9.52 percent, which had dropped by 0.61 percent in the last two months. Read: Inflation in Bangladesh falls slightly in Oct to 8.91% Inflation in Bangladesh decreased mainly due to fuel prices normalizing in the global market, strengthening supply of subsidized essential food items through TCB, and a surplus of winter vegetables, said Planning Minister MA Mannan while talking to reporters at the Secretariat on Monday (December 05, 2022). The consumer price index (CPI) data prepared by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) saw that non-food inflation and other inflation in November was 8.14 percent and 9.98 percent respectively, while it was 8.50 percent and 9.58 percent in October. However, general inflation increased slightly in rural areas in November and it stood at 8.98 percent, while it was 8.92 percent in October. Read: Inflation: UN expert for increasing benefits, wages or lives will be lost The general inflation in urban areas of Bangladesh has decreased point to point 8.70 percent, while it was 8.90 percent in October 2022.

The inflation rate declined to 5.02 percent in January last from 5.29 percent in the previous month (December).