The overall point-to-point food inflation rose to 7.50 per cent in March from 7.45 per cent in February because of price hike of some food items, Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics said on Thursday.
The point-to-point inflation and non-food inflation decreased in the month, the data published by the BBS on the day showed.‘The food inflation increased in March mainly due to price hike of food items such as coarse
rice, fish, meat, milk and tea,’ BBS deputy director general Mizanur Rahman told reporters at a press briefing at its conference room.
He said that the overall point-to-point inflation, calculated as per new base year of 2005-06, decreased to 7.71 per cent in March from 7.84 per cent in February while non-food inflation in the month also declined to 8.04 per cent from 8.44 per cent a month ago.
BBS officials said that the price of coarse rice rose in March due to a hike in fuel prices and it brought suffering to ordinary consumers.
According to the BBS data, the country’s demand for coarse rice constitutes 16.53 per cent of the total food consumption.
The data showed that the food inflation increased by 0.02 per cent in March compared to that of the previous month due to price hike of food items while non food inflation increased by 0.27 per cent as the price of cloth, furniture, transport, household materials, house rent and cost of education increased in March.
According to the data, the overall point-to-point inflation in the rural area witnessed a fall in March and stood at 7.16 per cent, which was 7.27 per cent in February.
The food inflation in the rural area, however, rose to 6.88 per cent in March from 6.77 per cent in February.
The non-food inflation came down to 7.66 per cent in March, while it was 8.18 per cent in February.
In the urban area, the overall inflation in March stood at 8.80 per cent, down from 8.97 per cent in February. The non food inflation also declined to 8.58 per cent in March from 8.82 per cent in February.
Replying to a question, Mizanur said works for upgrading GDP base year to 2010-11 and automation of consumer price index calculation method were going on.
-With New Age input
