Inflation drops to new low in April

The general point-to-point inflation rate in April slightly eased to a new low of 5.61 per cent from the previous month due to the slight decrease
in both food and non-food inflation.
“The general point-to-point inflation rate slightly eased to 5.61 percentage point in April,” said Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal while releasing the monthly consumer price index (CPI) after the ECNCEC meeting held at the NEC conference room at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital yesterday.
The general point-to-point inflation rate in March was 5.65 percentage points while it was 5.62 percentage points in February, which was the lowest in last 41 months. The general point-to-point inflation rate in January was 6.07 percentage points.
According to the data of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the point-to-point food inflation slightly declined to 3.84 per cent in April, 2016 which was 3.89 per cent in March, 2016.
After revealing the data, the planning minister said the inflation rate slightly decreased due to the stable price and downtrend of both food and non-food items including food grains.
Earlier, the planning minister 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 trend of inflation would see a downtrend in the coming months with the fiscal
inflation rate to remain around the targeted 5.50 percentage point.
AHM Mustafa Kamal also expressed his optimism that in the upcoming month of holy Ramadan, the price of essentials would not see uptrend despite possible increase in consumption level.
The BBS data showed that the point-to-point non-food inflation rate, however, declined slightly to 8.34 per cent in April 2016 down from 8.36 per cent in March, 2016.
Besides, the general inflation rate at the urban level in April declined to 7.22 per cent while it was 4.75 per cent at the rural level.
At the rural level, the food inflation also declined to 3.11 per cent in April, down from 3.15 per cent in the previous month, while the non-food inflation declined to 7.80 per cent in April as against 7.82 per cent in March this year.
In urban areas, the food inflation also declined to 5.51 per cent in April, down from 5.61 per cent in March. The non-food inflation rate also witnessed declining trend with 9.11 per cent in April which was 9.12 per cent in March last.
The national wage index rate witnessed a 6.13 per cent growth in April with 135.02 point against 5.93 per cent growth with 134.61 point in March.
The average year- to-year rate of inflation from May 2015 to April 2016 also declined to 6.04 per cent, which was 6.56 per cent from May 2014 to April 2015.

Inflation drops to new low in April

The general point-to-point inflation rate in April slightly eased to a new low of 5.61 per cent from the previous month due to the slight decrease in both food and non-food inflation. The general point-to-point inflation rate slightly eased to 5.61 percentage point in April, said Planning Minister AHM Mustafa Kamal while releasing the monthly consumer price index (CPI) after the ECNCEC meeting held at the NEC conference room at Sher-e-Bangla Nagar in the capital yesterday. The general point-to-point inflation rate in March was 5.65 percentage points while it was 5.62 percentage points in February, which was the lowest in last 41 months. The general point-to-point inflation rate in January was 6.07 percentage points. According to the data of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), the point-to-point food inflation slightly declined to 3.84 per cent in April, 2016 which was 3.89 per cent in March, 2016. After revealing the data, the planning minister said the inflation rate slightly decreased due to the stable price and downtrend of both food and non-food items including food grains. Earlier, the planning minister 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 trend of inflation would see a downtrend in the coming months with the fiscal inflation rate to remain around the targeted 5.50 percentage point. AHM Mustafa Kamal also expressed his optimism that in the upcoming month of holy Ramadan, the price of essentials would not see uptrend despite possible increase in consumption level. The BBS data showed that the point-to-point non-food inflation rate, however, declined slightly to 8.34 per cent in April 2016 down from 8.36 per cent in March, 2016. Besides, the general inflation rate at the urban level in April declined to 7.22 per cent while it was 4.75 per cent at the rural level. At the rural level, the food inflation also declined to 3.11 per cent in April, down from 3.15 per cent in the previous month, while the non-food inflation declined to 7.80 per cent in April as against 7.82 per cent in March this year. In urban areas, the food inflation also declined to 5.51 per cent in April, down from 5.61 per cent in March. The non-food inflation rate also witnessed declining trend with 9.11 per cent in April which was 9.12 per cent in March last. The national wage index rate witnessed a 6.13 per cent growth in April with 135.02 point against 5.93 per cent growth with 134.61 point in March. The average year- to-year rate of inflation from May 2015 to April 2016 also declined to 6.04 per cent, which was 6.56 per cent from May 2014 to April 2015.