The overall inflation rate surged past the 9 percent mark again in April, driven by rising food and non-food costs following a recent domestic fuel price hike and global market volatility.
According to data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) on Wednesday, the general inflation rate reached 9.04 percent last month, a sharp increase from 8.71 percent in March.
Although the April figure is marginally lower than the 9.17 percent recorded in the same month last year, the month-on-month data indicates a renewed upward trend.
The latest statistics reveal that inflation has now remained above 9 percent for five of the last six months, shattering the brief respite observed in March after a four-month climbing streak.
The non-food sector experienced the most significant pressure, with inflation jumping to 9.57 percent in April from 9.09 percent in the previous month. Food inflation also saw an uptick, rising to 8.39 percent from March's 8.24 percent.
In comparison, during April of the previous year, food and non-food inflation stood at 8.63 percent and 9.61 percent, respectively.
Economists and market analysts attribute this fresh inflationary pressure to a combination of domestic policy shifts and global instability. Tensions in the Middle East, particularly involving Iran, Israel, and the United States, have disrupted international markets.
Domestically, the government increased the prices of all major fuel oils, including diesel, kerosene, octane, and petrol, on April 19. Experts note that this hike immediately drove up transportation fares and production costs, creating a ripple effect across consumer markets.
The rising cost of living is severely squeezing low and middle-income households. While the national average wage growth rate stood at 8.16 percent in April, it failed to keep pace with the 9.04 percent inflation rate, resulting in a continuous decline in real income.
Retail markets directly reflect this economic strain. Vegetable prices have jumped by 10 to 15 taka per kilogram, and the costs of fish and meat continue to climb, though rice prices have remained relatively stable.
Economists warn that as daily expenses consistently outpace wage growth, the purchasing power of ordinary citizens is rapidly shrinking, taking a direct toll on their overall standard of living.
