Inflation 5.42pc in Jan

The rate of general inflation in January stood at 5.42 per cent, according to the latest data of the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).

"The general point to point inflation rate was 5.42 per cent in January," Planning Minister M A Mannan said while releasing the monthly consumer price index after the ECNEC meeting at the NEC Conference Room in the city's Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area on Wednesday, reports BSS.

The food inflation reached 5.33 per cent and the non-food inflation 5.57 per cent in January.

Besides, the general inflation rate at the urban level in January declined slightly to 5.93 per cent which was 6.14 per cent in December. The general point to point inflation rate at the rural level registered 5.14 per cent in January.

At the rural level, the food inflation marked 5.28 per cent in January while non-food inflation came down to 4.89 per cent in January which was 5.05 per cent in December.

In urban areas, the food inflation declined to 5.43 per cent in January down from 6.27 per cent in December while the non-food inflation stood at 6.50 per cent.

The national wage index rate witnessed a 6.21 per cent growth in January with 161.07 points against 6.18 per cent growth in December with 159.89 points.

The average year- to-year rate of inflation from February 2018 to January 2019 declined to 5.51 per cent, which was 5.76 per cent during the period from February 2017 to January 2018.