Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN) – Bangladesh’s inflation as measured by consumers’ price index (CPI) increased further in May because of rise in prices of non-food items.

The inflation rose to 5.63 per cent in May 2019 from 5. 58 per cent a month before on point-to-point basis, according to the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS) data, released on Tuesday.

Non-food inflation rose to 5.84 per cent in May 2019 from 5.64 per cent in the previous month while food inflation came down to 5.49 per cent from 5.54 per cent,

According to the BBS, inflation rate dropped to 5.35 per cent last December, but it started rising from the month of January.

It was also recorded lower at 5.57 per cent in May last year.

After the routine meeting of the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council, planning minister MA Mannan said inflation is up due to hike in prices of some non-food items.

The rate of point-to-point inflation in both rural and urban areas recorded rise in May.

In rural areas, inflation in May was recorded at 5.44 per cent compared to 5.41 per cent in April.

Food inflation in villages dropped very marginally to 5.67 per cent in May. It was recorded at 5.68 per cent in April.
Last month, non-food inflation in rural areas, however, increased to 5.01 per cent from 4.89 per cent in April.

In urban areas, inflation on a point-to-point basis also showed a higher trend to 5.96 per cent in May from 5.89 per cent in April.

Food inflation in cities dropped to 5.09 per cent in May from April’s 5.22 per cent.

Non-food inflation in urban areas, however, increased to 6.95 per cent in May from 6.66 per cent in April, the BBS data showed.

BBN/SSR/AD