The general point-to-point inflation rate in January eased further for the fifth consecutive month, as it dropped to 8.57%, down from 8.71% in December due to food and non-food inflation coming down.
The general point-to-point inflation rate in November last was 8.85%, according to the monthly consumer price (CPI) index of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
Point-to-point food inflation came down to 7.76 percentage points in January down from 7.91 percentage points in December.
On the other hand, the point-to-point non-food inflation also declined slightly to 9.84 percentage points in January down from 9.96 percentage points in December.
Talking to the media, State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam said that the inflation rate was falling in the country since September last while the wage rate is also increasing.
This means that the economy is now more active and vibrant, he said, adding that the country's export earnings were much higher during this July-December period compared to the same period last year.
Alam noted that Bangladesh was not lagging behind in any index compared to the other countries; even the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund and the FAO also acknowledge that.
The BBS data showed that the general point-to-point inflation in the urban areas also declined to 8.39 percentage points in January down from 8.43 percentage points in December.
National wage index rate in January was 7.06%, up from 7.03% in December.
He, however, admitted that the latest hike in the price of gas and electricity might have an impact on inflation in the coming months.
The government increased the electricity price by 5% at the retail level on January 31, the second hike in 19 days as it steadily retracts subsidies in the power sector.