April inflation crosses 9pc, reaches 9.04pc: BBS

Overall inflation in the country rose to 9.04 per cent in April, up from 8.71 per cent in March, according to data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics on Wednesday, May 6.

The increase was primarily driven by rising expenditure in the non-food sector . Non-food inflation climbed to 9.57 per cent in April from 9.09 per cent in March, reflecting continued increases in service sector costs, including fuel and transport.

Food inflation also saw a slight increase, reaching 8.39 per cent in April compared to 8.24 per cent the previous month, as prices of essential commodities remained under pressure .

The government increased fuel prices on April 19, raising diesel from Tk 100 to Tk 115 per litre, kerosene from Tk 112 to Tk 130, octane from Tk 120 to Tk 140, and petrol from Tk 116 to Tk 135 . The fuel price hike has impacted living expenses, increased transportation costs, and raised production costs of goods . In the past two weeks, vegetable prices have increased by Tk 10 to Tk 15 per kilogram due to the rise in fuel prices. Prices of fish and meat have also increased, though rice prices have remained stable .

Wage growth remains below inflation, with the national average wage rate at 8.16 per cent in April . This means real income has decreased, making it more challenging for low and middle-income families to purchase goods from the market .