Inflation edges up to 9.35pc in March

Staff Reporter :

The inflation rate in Bangladesh saw a marginal uptick in March, driven primarily by an increase in non-food prices in urban areas, according to the latest data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

The BBS report, released on Tuesday, stated that overall inflation stood at 9.35 per cent in March – an increase of 0.03 percentage points from February’s figure.

Non-food inflation rose to 9.70 per cent in March, up from 9.38 per cent the previous month. In contrast, food inflation eased to 8.93 per cent, down from 9.24 per cent in February.

This marks the second instance in five months that overall inflation has fallen below 10 per cent. The previous occasion was in September 2024, when inflation registered at 9.92 per cent. With February’s decline, overall inflation also touched a 22-month low.

Economists have cited seasonal trends and tightened monetary policy as contributing factors to the recent moderation in inflation. However, concerns remain regarding the sustainability of the decline, particularly in light of persistent structural pressures.

In rural areas, inflation dropped slightly to 9.41 per cent in March, compared to 9.51 per cent in February. Rural food inflation declined to 8.81 per cent, down from 9.15 per cent, while non-food inflation edged up to 9.97 per cent from 9.85 per cent.

Urban areas, however, saw a sharper increase in overall inflation, rising to 9.66 per cent in March from 9.34 per cent in February. While urban food inflation fell to 9.18 per cent (from 9.47 per cent), non-food inflation surged to 9.95 per cent, compared to 9.27 per cent a month earlier.