Cost of living in Dhaka rises 6.47 pc in 2016: CAB

Cost of living increased by 6.47 percent while prices of commodities and services by 5.81 percent in the capital in the just concluded year.

Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) revealed this information in a study report published today.

According to CAB statistics, cost of living had increased by 6.38 percent in 2015, which was 0.09 percent more than the rise in 2016.

Except a few items, commodity prices remained static, to a large extent, in 2016 compared to the previous year, said the CAB report.

The CAB study report has been prepared after reviewing the prices of 14 services, 114 food items and 22 other daily necessities in 15 markets in the city.

The report says prices of rice and pulses increased in 2016. The price of rice increased by 2.87 percent while pulses about 10 percent on an average.

The prices of imported lentil and local lentil are increased by 35.78 percent and 12.98 percent respectively in 2016.

The price of imported garlic is increased by 72.06 percent while local one is increased by 47 percent.

The price of sugar increased by 46.05 percent while salt 37.32 percent, tea 11.70 percent, cows` milk 8.60 percent, meat 6.24 percent.

The price of local long cloth is increased by 10.39 percent.

The CAB report says that the prices of all varieties of rice witnessed upward trends in both wholesale and retail markets towards the end of the year though those were almost static throughout the year.

The price of coarse rise, consumed by low-income people, increased most, it added.

According to the CAB report, house rent increased by 8.77 percent in Dhaka city in 2016.

There was no improvement in public transport system in the city. The traffic jam situation declined in 2016, the report says.

It adds that cost of medical treatment was high in 2016 through the health service section expanded in the recent years.

Source: BSS