The country’s point-to-point inflation rose to 9.13 per cent in February, with food inflation climbing to 9.30 per cent, according to the latest data released by the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
Overall inflation was 8.58 per cent, and food inflation was 8.29 per cent a month earlier.
Non-food inflation also rose slightly to 9.01 per cent, up from 8.81 per cent in January.
Inflation remained higher in rural areas than in urban centres, reflecting continued pressure on food prices outside major cities.
In rural areas, overall inflation increased to 9.21 per cent in February, from 8.63 per cent in January, though it was lower than 9.51 per cent recorded in February last year.
Rural food inflation rose to 9.07 per cent, up from 8.18 per cent in January, while rural non-food inflation increased to 9.34 per cent, compared with 9.04 per cent a month earlier.
In urban areas, overall inflation rose to 9.07 per cent in February, up from 8.57 per cent in January.
Urban food prices saw a sharper increase, with food inflation jumping to 9.87 per cent, significantly higher than 8.61 per cent in the previous month, indicating stronger price pressure in city markets.
However, non-food inflation in urban areas remained relatively stable at 8.57 per cent, slightly higher than 8.54 per cent in January.
Despite the month-on-month increase, the annual average inflation rate has eased significantly.
The 12-month moving average inflation from March 2025 to February 2026 stood at 8.65 per cent, down from 10.31 per cent during the same period a year earlier, suggesting that overall price pressures have moderated compared with last year.
Meanwhile, wage growth continued to lag behind inflation, raising concerns about declining purchasing power for workers.
The national wage rate index increased by 8.06 per cent in February on a point-to-point basis, slightly lower than 8.08 per cent in January and 8.12 per cent in February 2025.
Sector-wise wage growth in February was 8.10 per cent in agriculture, 7.99 per cent in industry, and 8.20 per cent in services.
According to BBS, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for February was calculated based on data collected from 154 markets across all 64 districts of the country.
Overall, the data indicate that inflationary pressure persists despite a gradual improvement in the annual average, with rising food prices continuing to drive the cost of living for consumers.
Source: UNB