The country’s point-to-point general inflation rate in August witnessed a downward trend as it dropped by 0.46 percentage points to 7.39 per cent in August. The inflation rate was 7.85 per cent in July. Food inflation came down to 8.09 per cent in August, compared to 8.14 per cent in July; while non-food inflation reduced to 6.35 per cent in August, from 7.40 per cent in July. It was disclosed by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) director general Golam Mostafa Kamal, at a press conference, at the BBS conference room, at Agargaon in the city on Thursday.
Kamal said despite the rising trend of the price of essential commodities, the government had managed to keep it stable through the markets. He admitted that the price of food had increased in August, compared to July. But the inflation rate in point-to-point basis had declined, he observed.
Kamal said the food inflation had increased by 2.08 per cent in August, compared to July, in terms of inflation fluctuation due to a hike in the price of rice, flour, fish, egg, vegetable, spices, milk and other essential commodities.
Similarly, the non-food inflation increased by 0.44 per cent in August, compared to July, due to an increase in the price of cloth, house rent, furniture, household materials, medical services, transport, educational equipment and other materials.
In rural areas, the point-to point general inflation was 6.90 per cent in August, while it was 7.43 per cent in July. The food and non-food inflation in rural areas was 7.50 per cent and 5.83 per cent in August, while it was 7.52 per cent and 7.27 per cent in July.
In urban areas, the general point-to-point inflation rate in August was 8.34 per cent, while it was 8.64 per cent in July. The food and non-food inflation was 9.52 and 7.08 per cent in August, while it was 9.65 and 7.59 per cent in July.
According to the BBS, the average annual inflation rate in the FY 2013 came down to 7.19 per cent, as it was 7.56 per cent in the FY 2012, as per the base year 2005-06.
-With The Independent input
