Bangladesh Inflation Rises to 8.34 Percent in September
Bangladesh's inflation rate rose to 8.34 percent in September, driven by government fuel price hikes that increased transport and food costs.
Inflation in Bangladesh rose to 8.34 percent in September, reversing a two-month decline and increasing from 8.26 percent in August. Data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics indicates that the surge was primarily driven by a September 20 government decision to raise the prices of four types of fuel by Tk 20 per litre, which subsequently increased transport and food costs.
Food inflation climbed to 7.22 percent from 7.02 percent in August, while non-food inflation saw a slight decrease to 9.3 percent from 9.32 percent. The price increases affected both rural and urban areas, with rural inflation reaching 8.38 percent and urban inflation hitting 8.26 percent. National wage growth fell to 7.9 percent in September, continuing a four-year trend where wages remain below the inflation rate, reducing household purchasing power.
These developments occur during the third month of the 2026-27 fiscal year. The Government of Bangladesh has set a target to maintain average inflation at 7.5 percent and increase GDP growth to 6.5 percent. To support these goals, the National Parliament of Bangladesh passed a record-high national budget of 9.38 trillion taka, or 77 billion U.S. dollars, on June 30.
