Staff Reporter :
General inflation in Bangladesh continued its downward trend in April, falling to 9.17 per cent from 9.35 per cent in March, according to data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
This marks the second consecutive monthly decline in inflation, following a rate of 9.32 per cent in February. Earlier in the fiscal year, inflation stood at 10.89 per cent in December and declined to 9.94 per cent in January.
April’s drop was driven by marginal declines in both food and non-food inflation. Food inflation fell to 8.63 per cent, down from 8.93 per cent in March, indicating a slight easing in the cost of essential items. Non-food inflation also saw a minor reduction, declining to 9.61 per cent from 9.70 per cent the previous month.
Despite these improvements, the 12-month moving average inflation rate for the period from May 2024 to April 2025 stood at 10.21 per cent, up from 9.73 per cent recorded during the same period the previous year.
In contrast, the wage rate index continues to show subdued growth. Wages increased marginally to 8.19 per cent in April 2025, compared to 8.15 per cent in March. This persistent gap between inflation and wage growth remains a concern, especially for lower- and middle-income households.
Over the past three years, inflation has consistently outpaced wage growth.
In 2023, the inflation rate reached 9.55 per cent, while wage growth stood at just 7.43 per cent. In 2021, inflation was recorded at 5.54 per cent, compared to a wage growth rate of 6.07 per cent, according to BBS data.
The continued disparity between rising consumer prices and slower wage gains underscores the growing pressure on household purchasing power and highlights the need for policy measures to address the cost-of-living challenge.
