The general inflation in Dhaka city was recorded at 11.08 per cent in 2022 as rocketing prices of food and nonfood items badly affected the millions, according to a latest report.
The Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) prepared the report on annual inflationary pressure 2022 and published it on Saturday, revealing that food inflation was 10.03 per cent while non-food inflation was 12.32 per cent.
CAB calculated the general inflation of low-income people separately which was much higher at 9.13 per cent.
Food inflation for the low-income consumers was 10.03 per cent while it was 7.76 per cent for the nonfood items.
According to the report, August 2022 was the costliest month as food inflation rose to 15.31 per cent.
The costs of 141 food products, 49 nonfood items and 25 services between January 2022 and December 2022 were calculated to get the rate of inflation, CAB said.
The price information was collected every month from 30 shops in 11 markets in the capital city.
According to the association, the costs of rice, cooking oil, wheat coarse flour, finer flour, pulses, sugar, salt, red meat, poultry meat, egg, fish, liquid milk, powdered milk, fruits, vegetables like tomato, brinjal, spices, onion, green chili, ginger, garlic, cooking fuel, personal care products, sanitary pads, cloths, mosquito coil/spray, bath soap, washing soap, transport, water, electricity, house rent, health, education and others showed a notable hike in 2022, resulting in high inflation.
The rising costs of fuel oil like diesel, the Ukraine-Russia war as well as an oligarchy in the domestic markets caused hikes in the prices of essential commodities and services, vice president of CAB S M Nazer Hossain said.
He said that if the trend continues, the condition might deteriorate further in 2023.
CAB suggested raising subsidies on diesel to tame production and transportation costs.
It also urged the government to refrain from increasing household electricity, water and gas prices to take a hold on the projected higher inflation in 2023.
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