Bangladesh’s overall inflation eased year-on-year to 9.32 percent in February, down from January’s 9.94 percent, supported by falling food prices, according to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data released on Thursday.
In February 2024, the country’s overall inflation on point-to-point basis was recorded higher at 9.67 percent.
Food inflation dipped to 9.24 percent compared to 10.72 percent in the previous month, having impacts on overall Consumer Price Index (CPI).
Meanwhile, Non-food inflation soared to 9.38 percent last month compared with 9.32 percent recorded in January.
The annual inflation rate came down to single digit for the second time in four moths. General inflation stood at 12.92 percent in December and 13.8 percent in November.
The last time inflation was below 10 percent was in September 2023, when it stood at 9.92 percent.
Monthly inflation declined to 15 percent in the negative last month, which was 15 percent a month earlier, BBS data showed.
Annual moving average inflation during March 2024-February 2025 was recorded at 10.30 percent, up from 9.66 percent in the corresponding period a year earlier.
Despite a fall from January’s 10.18 percent, rural general inflation still remain higher at 9.51 percent in February with food inflation declining from 10.61 percent to 9.15 percent and non-food inflation rising from 9.77 percent to 9.85 percent.
Meanwhile, urban general inflation rate dropped from 9.89 percent to 9.34 percent. Urban food inflation came down 9.47 percent from 10.95 percent and non-food inflation modestly rose to 9.27 percent last month from 9.25 percent in the previous month.
However, the inflation level is still much higher than the government expectation for bringing it down to 6-7 percent by this June.
The government has embarked on a number of measures. Finance Adviser Salehuddin Ahmed said last months it would take another two to three months for inflation to decrease as government measures take effect.
According to data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), monthly overall inflation has remained above 9 percent for over two and a half years.
National Wage Index modestly slipped to 8.12 percent last month while it was 8.16 percent one month ago.
