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Inflation takes an upturn again, after a brief relief on bounteous agricultural harvests, with July rate climbing to 8.55 per cent by official count released Thursday.
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data show the point-to-point inflation rate in July 0.07- percentage-point higher over the previous month of June.
And this upturn breaks a breather lasting previous three consecutive months, as, reports show, kitchen market takes in some heat from price rises of numerous farm produce.
In June, the inflation rate was recorded at 8.48 per cent, as per the BBS data.
In the corresponding period in July 2024, the BBS calculated the inflation at 11.89 per cent -- the highest in recent times.
The current interim government targets to tame the average inflation within 6.5 per cent during this fiscal year (2025-26).
According to the national statistical bureau, food inflation increased to 7.56 per cent last month from 7.39 per cent in June.
Preceding the latest uptrend, the month-on-month inflation had steadily decreased from 9.35 per cent in March to 9.17 per cent in April, to 9.05 per cent in May, and to 8.48 per cent in June, the official statistics show.
Townsmen happen to bear the brunt of higher inflationary pressure compared to villagers as the point-to-point inflation in urban areas was recorded 8.95 per cent, 0.40-percentage-point higher than the average rate in July.
On the other hand, the inflation in the rural areas was recorded at 8.55 per cent, same as the previous month.
According to BBS findings, the food-inflation rate in urban areas last month was 8.04 per cent while it was 7.99 per cent in the previous month.
Non-food inflation in towns was recorded at 9.55 per cent in July in a nominal rise from 9.53 per cent in the previous month of June.
For the rural Bangladesh, the food inflation was 7.36 per cent and the non-food inflation 9.73 per cent last month. In the previous month, the two rates were recorded at 7.14 per cent and 9.72 per cent respectively.
The 12-month average inflation in Bangladesh was still high at 9.77 per cent between August 2024 and July 2025, according to BBS data.
In the corresponding period between August 2023 and July 2024, the inflation rate was 9.90 per cent.
Meanwhile, BBS also unveiled the Wage Rate Index (WRI) for the month of July, showing a slight rise.
According to the statistics, the WRI last month was 8.19 per cent, 0.01-percentage-point higher than in the previous month of June.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com