Mustafa Sumon ; Dhaka – The prices of commodities and services in Bangladesh surged significantly this past May compared to the same period last year.
According to the latest data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the overall point-to-point inflation rate climbed to 9.42% in May, marking the highest inflation level the country has witnessed in the last 16 months.
The previous peak was recorded in January of last year, when inflation stood at 9.94%.
The BBS report indicates a notable shift, showing that non-food inflation outpaced food inflation during the month of May. Food inflation was recorded at 9.06%, while non-food inflation surged to 9.71%.
Rural vs. Urban Inflation Trends
The statistical breakdown reveals that rural areas continue to bear a heavier inflationary burden than urban centers. In May, the overall inflation rate in rural regions stood at 9.48%, compared to 9.25% in urban areas.
However, urban consumers faced higher costs specifically at the dinner table. Food inflation in cities reached 9.29%, whereas rural areas experienced a slightly lower food inflation rate of 8.95%.
The primary driver behind the higher overall rural inflation was a massive spike in non-food expenses, which skyrocketed to 9.98% in the countryside compared to 9.24% in urban sectors.