Driven by a significant spike in food costs, Bangladesh’s point-to-point inflation reached 9.13 percent in February, according to data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
This figure represents a notable increase from the 8.58 percent recorded in January. Food inflation specifically rose to 9.30 percent during the month, up from 8.29 percent in the previous month, while non-food inflation experienced a marginal rise to 9.01 percent from 8.81 percent.
Rural and urban price dynamics
The BBS reports that rural areas continue to experience higher inflationary pressure than urban centres, largely due to sustained food price increases outside major cities.
In rural regions, the overall inflation rate climbed to 9.21 percent in February from 8.63 percent in January, though this remained below the 9.51 percent seen in February of the previous year.
Rural food inflation reached 9.07 percent, while non-food costs in these areas hit 9.34 percent. Conversely, urban inflation stood at 9.07 percent in February, rising from 8.57 percent in January.
City markets saw a particularly sharp jump in food prices, with urban food inflation hitting 9.87 percent compared to 8.61 percent in January. Meanwhile, non-food inflation in urban locations remained relatively stable, ticking up slightly to 8.57 percent from 8.54 percent.
Moving average and wage disparity
Despite these monthly increases, the 12-month moving average suggests a general moderation in price pressures over the longer term.
Between March 2025 and February 2026, the average inflation rate was 8.65 percent, which is a marked decrease from the 10.31 percent recorded during the same period a year earlier.
However, the growth of wages has failed to keep pace with these rising costs, leading to concerns regarding the diminished purchasing power of the workforce.
The national wage rate index showed an 8.06 percent increase in February, a slight drop from 8.08 percent in January and 8.12 percent in February 2025. Wage growth by sector was reported at 8.10 percent for agriculture, 7.99 percent for industry, and 8.20 percent for services.
These findings, based on Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from 154 markets across all 64 districts, highlight that while the annual average is improving, the high cost of food continues to strain consumer livelihoods.
