Bangladesh Inflation Rate at 8-Month High

The annual inflation rate in Bangladesh eased to 8.71% in March 2026 from February’s ten-month high of 9.13%, which had been driven by higher food prices ahead of Ramadan and increased election-related spending. Prices moderated for food and non-alcoholic beverages (8.24% vs 9.30% in February), miscellaneous goods and services (22.34% vs 24.04%), and clothing and footwear (9.59% vs 11.03%). Meanwhile, prices accelerated for transportation (7.47% vs 6.65%), housing and utilities (8.43% vs 8.42%), alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and narcotics (9.69% vs 8.43%), communication (8.65% vs 8.13%), education (8.32% vs 7.54%), furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (6.15% vs 6.02%), restaurants and hotels (10.38% vs 9.93%), and health (3.69% vs 3.66%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices climbed 0.89%, marking the fastest pace in five months, after a 0.36% rise in February.

The annual inflation rate in Bangladesh rose to 9.13% in February 2026 from 8.58% in the previous month. This marked the highest reading since April 2025, as prices increased at a faster pace for food and non-alcoholic beverages (9.30% vs 8.29% in January), alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics (8.43% vs 8.40%), miscellaneous goods and services (24.04% vs 21.06%), clothing and footwear (11.03% vs 11.0%), transportation (6.65% vs 6.55%), communication (8.13% vs 8.04%), and education (7.54% vs 7.38%). On the other hand, costs moderated for housing and utilities (8.42% vs 8.48%), furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (6.02% vs 6.60%), restaurants and hotels (8.93% vs 9.14%), and health (3.66% vs 3.69%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased by 0.36% from 0.23% in January.

The annual inflation rate in Bangladesh rose to 8.58% in January 2026 from 8.49% in December 2025. It marked the highest reading since May, as prices increased at a faster pace for food and non-alcoholic beverages (8.29% vs 7.71% in December), housing and utilities (8.48% vs 7.97%), recreation and culture (8.64% vs 8.41%), and miscellaneous goods and services (21.06% vs 19.7%). On the other hand, prices moderated for transport (6.55% vs 7.28%), alcoholic beverages, tobacco, and narcotics (8.4% vs 12.14%), clothing and footwear (11% vs 12.11%), furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance (6.6% vs 7.56%), health (3.69% vs 3.87%), communication (8.04% vs 8.64%), education (7.38% vs 7.61%), and restaurants and hotels (9.14% vs 9.37%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.23%, rebounding from a 0.84% fall in the previous month.