Inflation rises to 8-month high of 8.58pc in Jan

Inflation rose for a third consecutive month in January, reaching an eight-month high as price pressures persisted despite some easing in non-food items, official data showed on Sunday.

The overall inflation rate increased to 8.58 percent in January, up from 8.49 percent in December and 8.29 percent in November, according to Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). 

The latest reading is the highest since May last year, when inflation stood slightly above 9 percent.

Although inflation has eased from the peak of 9.94 percent recorded in January last year, the renewed uptick underscores continued cost-of-living pressures on households.

Food inflation rose sharply, climbing to 8.29 percent in January 2026 from 7.71 percent in December 2025. 

While the figure marks a significant improvement from 10.72 percent in January 2025, it still reflects growing strain on household budgets. 

Food prices remain the main driver of overall inflation due to their heavy weight in consumer spending.

By contrast, non-food inflation edged down to 8.81 percent in January from 9.13 percent in December and 9.32 percent a year earlier. 

The decline suggests some easing in price pressures for items such as clothing, housing-related costs and services, though inflation in these categories remains high by historical standards.

SH