Inflation drops to 5.02pc in January

The rate of inflation declined to 5.02 per cent in January from 5.29 per cent in the previous month (December).

“The general point-to-point inflation rate eased to 5.02 per cent in January 2021,” said the Planning Minister while briefing reporters after the weekly Ecnec meeting held at the NEC Bhaban in the capital on Wednesday.

Revealing the monthly consumer price index of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), he said the current trend of inflation is a good sign. The inflation rate was under control despite the hike in rice prices, he added.

According to the BBS data, the food inflation went down to 5.23 per cent in January, 2021 from 5.34 per cent in December, 2020, while the non-food inflation rate also declined to 4.69 per cent last month from 5.21 per cent in December, 2020.

In rural areas, the general inflation rate declined to 5.00 per cent in January 2021 from 5.28 per cent in December, 2020.

Also in urban areas, the general inflation rate declined to 5.05 per cent in January last from 5.31 per cent in December, 2020.

The point-to-point national wage index witnessed an uptrend with 6.19 per cent in January last against 6.15 per cent in December 2020.