Inflation has crept up last month after easing prior two months, as demand for non-food items increased.
December inflation stood at 6.10%, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) latest data released yesterday. It was 6.05% in November and lowest since October last when it was 6.19%.
“Rising demand for non-food items in the individual’s consumption basket for Christmas, Victory Day and the year end celebration has pushed up inflation slightly in last month,” said Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal while briefing on monthly consumer price index (CPI) at the NEC auditorium yesterday.
Overall month to month, non-food inflation rose to 7.05% in December from 6.56% in November, the BBS data showed.
However, food inflation declined marginally to 5.48% from 5.72% during the period. “Food inflation rate did not rise as the supply chain remained smooth,” said the minister.
Continued fall in oil and food prices in the global market also contributed to the downward of food inflation.
Overall inflation in the urban areas increased to 7.07% from 6.88% while in the rural areas, it was 5.58%, down from 5.61% during the period.
In urban areas, food inflation was down 7.14% from 7.42% and non-food inflation saw a rise of 6.98% from 6.29% during the period.
In rural areas, food inflation was 4.76% in December, down from 5% in previous month while non-food inflation soared to 7.10% against 6.76%.