March inflation rises slightly to 5.65pc

Country’s general point to point inflation rate slightly increased to 5.65 percentage point in March from the previous month due to
the slight increase in food inflation.
”The general point to point inflation rate slightly increased to 5.65 percentage point in March,” said Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal while releasing the monthly consumer price index (CPI) after the NEC meeting held at the NEC conference room at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital yesterday.
The general point to point inflation rate in February was 5.62 percentage point, which was the lowest in last 41 months, thanks to the declining price trend of food and consumer goods alongside stable exchange rate. The general point to point inflation rate in January was 6.07 percentage point.
According to the data of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the point to point food inflation slightly rose to 5.89 per cent in March 2016 which was 5.77 per cent in February, 2016.
After revealing the data, the planning minister said the inflation rate slightly increased due to the price hike of some food items including sugar and meat.
Besides, he apprehended that the inflation rate in April may rise further due to the widespread celebration of Bengali New Year where sale of Hilsa fishes could push upward the inflation rate to some extent.
He also hoped that the government would be able to contain the inflation rate in this fiscal year within 6 per cent. The BBS data showed that the point to point non-food inflation rate, however, declined slightly to 8.36 per cent in March 2016 down from 8.46 per cent in February, 2016.
Besides, the general inflation rate at the urban level in March slightly increased to 7.27 per cent in while it was 4.79 per cent at the rural level.
At the rural level, the food inflation also increased to 3.15 per cent in March, up from 3.04 per cent in the previous month, while the non-food inflation declined to 7.82 per cent in March as against 7.97 per cent in February this year.
In urban areas, the food inflation also increased to 5.61 per cent in March, up from 5.48 per cent in February. The non-food inflation rate has, however, witnessed declining trend with 9.12 per cent in March which was 9.14 per cent in February last.
The national wage index rate witnessed a 5.93 per cent growth in February with 134.61 point against 5.96 per cent growth with 134.19 point in February.
The average year-to-year rate of inflation from April 2015 to March 2016 also declined to 6.10 per cent, which was 6.66 per cent from April 2014 to March 2015.

March inflation rises slightly to 5.65pc

Countrys general point to point inflation rate slightly increased to 5.65 percentage point in March from the previous month due to the slight increase in food inflation. The general point to point inflation rate slightly increased to 5.65 percentage point in March, said Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal while releasing the monthly consumer price index (CPI) after the NEC meeting held at the NEC conference room at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital yesterday. The general point to point inflation rate in February was 5.62 percentage point, which was the lowest in last 41 months, thanks to the declining price trend of food and consumer goods alongside stable exchange rate. The general point to point inflation rate in January was 6.07 percentage point. According to the data of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the point to point food inflation slightly rose to 5.89 per cent in March 2016 which was 5.77 per cent in February, 2016. After revealing the data, the planning minister said the inflation rate slightly increased due to the price hike of some food items including sugar and meat. Besides, he apprehended that the inflation rate in April may rise further due to the widespread celebration of Bengali New Year where sale of Hilsa fishes could push upward the inflation rate to some extent. He also hoped that the government would be able to contain the inflation rate in this fiscal year within 6 per cent. The BBS data showed that the point to point non-food inflation rate, however, declined slightly to 8.36 per cent in March 2016 down from 8.46 per cent in February, 2016. Besides, the general inflation rate at the urban level in March slightly increased to 7.27 per cent in while it was 4.79 per cent at the rural level. At the rural level, the food inflation also increased to 3.15 per cent in March, up from 3.04 per cent in the previous month, while the non-food inflation declined to 7.82 per cent in March as against 7.97 per cent in February this year. In urban areas, the food inflation also increased to 5.61 per cent in March, up from 5.48 per cent in February. The non-food inflation rate has, however, witnessed declining trend with 9.12 per cent in March which was 9.14 per cent in February last. The national wage index rate witnessed a 5.93 per cent growth in February with 134.61 point against 5.96 per cent growth with 134.19 point in February. The average year-to-year rate of inflation from April 2015 to March 2016 also declined to 6.10 per cent, which was 6.66 per cent from April 2014 to March 2015.