Inflation increased to 8.78pc in February

The general point-to-point inflation rate increased slightly to 8.78 per cent in February mainly because of the slight rise in food inflation, according to the monthly Consumer Price Index (CPI) of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

The inflation rate was 8.57 per cent in January and 8.71 per cent in December, reports BSS.

In February, the point-to-point food inflation increased to 8.13 per cent, which was 7.76 per cent in the previous month.

The point-to-point non-food inflation declined slightly to 9.82 per cent in February down from 9.84 per cent in January.

Talking to the reporters after the day's ECNEC meeting, State Minister for Planning Dr Shamsul Alam said the inflation rate has been falling in the country from September last until January while the wage rate is also increasing.

He said although the inflation rate witnessed a slight increase last month, it is not uncomfortable.

Dr Alam said that currently, the BBS is calculating CPI index based on the average of 412 commodities, but the number would be increased to 700.

Citing that the price of vegetables is now on the downtrend, he hoped that the prices of commodities would come down also.

Considering the ensuing Holy Month of Ramadan, the state minister said there would be an additional demand among the consumers. "But, there has been sufficient import of essentials for which I believe the prices of commodities will remain in a tolerable state."

The BBS data showed that the national wage index rate was 7.11 per cent in February up from 7.06 per cent in January.