The headline inflation in December eased further but that could not pull down the average inflation to 12 years high in the just concluded 2023.
Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics on Sunday calculated that the monthly inflation in December was recorded at 9.41 per cent compared to 9.49 per cent in November and 9.93 per cent in October.
It also calculated that food inflation reached double digit in November dropped in December.
But non-food inflation urged again to 8.5 per cent the past month from 8.1 per cent in November, according to BBS inflation monthly update.
The overall outcome of the December also showed that average inflation in the eventful 2023 was recoded at 9.48 per cent.
The previously highest 12-month average inflation was at 11.40 per cent recorded in 20211, the third year of the first five-year tenure of the current political regime.
Economists said inflation would continue to give problem in the new year too as the government initiatives were insufficient to check it.
For the past one week, prices of more than a dozen essentials including all types of rice increased Tk 4- Tk 5 for per kilogram in the local market.
Besides, prices of sugar and edible oils also increased in the local market plagued by cartel, said the economists.
Former commerce minister Tipu Munshi in a statement in parliament stated that market syndicate was very powerful.
Former World Bank Dhaka office chief economist Zahid Hussain said market intelligence by the government agencies should be enhanced.
He lamented that the government was also failed to increase wage rate which according to him a way to make the losses of the inflation.
Compared to 9.41 per cent inflation December, the wage hike was 7.74 per cent.
Majority people are forced to break savings and borrowings to nake up the income erosion, said Zahid Hussain.
Many, however, continued to cut the expenses on both food and no- food items.
The BBS monthly update showed that inflation was hightin rural areas athan the urban.
It calculated overall inflation at rural areas at 9.48 in December with food inflation at 9.66 per cent and non-food inflation at 8.1 per cent.
The overall inflation in urban areas was 9.15 per cent during the same month with food inflation at 9.46 and non-food inflation at 8.3 per cent.
New Age
