Inflation rises in Sept

Inflation rose for the second consecutive month in September driven by an increase in the price of both food and non-food items, official figures showed yesterday. 

The average Consumer Price Index climbed 29 basis points to 5.97 per cent last month. It was 5.68 per cent in August.

Food inflation went up by 42 basis points to 6.50 per cent in September from 6.08 per cent in August.

Non-food inflation edged up seven basis points to 5.12 per cent, data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) showed.

Inflation in rural areas was up 35 basis points at 5.96 per cent, again driven by food inflation, which was 52 basis points higher at 6.61 per cent. Non-food inflation went up by one basis point to 4.71 per cent.

Inflation in the urban areas jumped 17 basis points to 5.98 per cent. Food inflation rose 20 basis points to 6.26 per cent and non-food inflation declined 14 basis points to 5.55 per cent.

In a press release, the BBS said the prices of food items such as coarse rice, potato, brinjal, lady's finger, ginger and eggs rose in September compared to August.

The general wage rose four basis points to 5.94 per cent in September, according to the Wage Rate Index.

The wage rate in the agriculture sector went up by seven basis points to 6.23 per cent in September. Wages in the industrial sector rose one basis point to 5.26 per cent.