Bangladesh’s overall inflation eased to 8.17% in October, marking the lowest level in 39 months, according to the latest data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS). The last time inflation was lower was in July 2022, when it stood at 7.48%.
BBS data show that point-to-point inflation dropped by 0.19 percentage points from the previous month. This means a product or service that cost Tk 100 in October last year required Tk 108.17 this year, indicating an increase of Tk 8.17 in expenses per Tk 100.
Officials said the modest decline was mainly driven by easing food prices, though non-food expenses continued to rise. Food inflation fell from 7.64% in September to 7.08% in October, while non-food inflation climbed from 8.98% to 9.13%, reflecting higher costs of transport, healthcare, and clothing.
Rural areas experienced a sharper fall in inflation, coming down to 8.16% in October from 8.47% in September. In contrast, urban inflation slightly increased to 8.33% from 8.28% during the same period.
According to BBS, the overall decline suggests temporary stability in food prices. However, the rising costs of non-food essentials continue to burden household budgets, especially for low and middle-income families.
Meanwhile, data from the Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) show that prices of several key commodities, including edible oil, lentils, onions, and garlic, rose again last month, offsetting part of the relief gained from easing food inflation.
Inflation refers to a sustained rise in the prices of goods and services, which erodes the purchasing power of money. Simply put, what Tk 100 could buy a year ago now costs more.
Economists attribute inflation to several factors, such as demand rising faster than supply, increased production costs driven by fuel or wage hikes, and an oversupply of money in the economy that pushes prices upward.
The inflation rate represents the average percentage increase in prices over a certain period, measured by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics.
