Inflation hits 53-month low

The country witnessed the lowest inflation rate in 53 months, as it stood at 5.03 percent in December this fiscal year, according to the lasted data of Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

"Inflation hits lowest in last 53 months due to practical policy measures taken by the government," Planning Minister A H M Mustafa Kamal said today while releasing the monthly consumer price index (CPI) at the ECNEC briefing at NEC-I conference room in city`s Sher-e-Bangla Nagar.

He said the country had registered lowest inflation rate 5.01 percent in July 2012.

The rate of inflation in the month of December in current fiscal eased by 0.35 percent compared to the previous month. The point-to-point general inflation declined to 5.03 percent in December from 5.38 percent in November this fiscal.

The food inflation also eased to 5.38 percent in December from 5.41 percent in November while the non-food inflation came down to 4.49 percent in the month from 5.33 percent in the previous month.

The general inflation in last 12 months was 5.57 percent in October, 5.53 percent in September, 5.37 percent in August, 5.40 percent in July, 5.45 percent in May, 5.61 percent in April, 5.65 percent in March and 5.62 percent in February.

According to the BBS, the inflation at the urban level in December declined to 6.07 percent while it was 4.46 percent at the rural level.

At the rural level, the food inflation decreased to 4.78 percent in December from 4.83 percent in November while the non-food inflation declined to 3.88 percent in December as against 4.60 percent in previous month this year.

On the other hand, in urban areas, the food inflation and non-food inflation remained stagnant at 6.74 percent and 6.35 percent respectively in December.

Source: BSS