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Inflation rises to 8.34%, wages lag in Sep
Daily Sun Report, Dhaka
Published: 08 Oct 2026, 12:00 AM
Inflation rate in the country rose to 8.34% this September from 8.26% in the previous month, driven by higher food prices and increases in several essential non-food items, according to the latest data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS).
Point-to-point inflation increased by 0.08 percentage points during the month. Food inflation rose 0.20 percentage points to 7.22% from 7.02% in August, while non-food inflation edged down to 9.30% from 9.32%.
Despite the monthly increase, food inflation remained below the 7.64% recorded in September last year. Non-food inflation, however, was higher than the 8.98% recorded a year earlier.
Inflationary pressure remained stronger in rural areas, with rural
inflation at 8.38%, compared with 8.26% in urban areas. Rural food inflation stood at 7.18%, while urban food inflation was slightly higher at 7.25%. Rural non-food inflation was 9.57%, significantly above the urban rate of 8.94%.
High inflation in several categories
BBS data show particularly high inflation in restaurants and hotels, alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics, and miscellaneous goods and services.
Inflation in restaurants and hotels rose to 13.26% in September from 12.49% in August. Prices in the category also increased 2.79% month-on-month.
Inflation in alcoholic beverages, tobacco and narcotics stood at 11.99%, while clothing and footwear inflation rose to 10.31%.
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels recorded inflation of 9.81%, while transport costs rose 9.46% year-on-year.
Inflation in recreation and culture stood at 9.54%, and education at 7.51%. Health-related inflation remained comparatively low at 3.73%.
Miscellaneous goods and services recorded inflation of 11.83% in September, down sharply from 14.75% in August.
Inflation trend
General point-to-point inflation remained above 8% in recent months, standing at 8.55% in July, 8.26% in August and 8.34% in September.
Food inflation was 7.16% in July, fell to 7.02% in August and then rose to 7.22% in September. Non-food inflation stood at 9.28%, 9.32% and 9.30% respectively.
The 12-month moving-average inflation rate stood at 8.65% for October 2025-September 2026, marginally down from 8.66% for September 2025-August 2026. The rate has generally declined from 9.45% for October 2024-September 2025 to 8.65% in the latest period.
Wages rise slower than inflation
Meanwhile, the BBS Wage Rate Index showed that nominal wage growth remained below inflation in September.
The national wage rate index rose 7.90% year-on-year, compared with general inflation of 8.34%, indicating that wages increased more slowly than consumer prices.
Agricultural wages rose 7.89%, industrial wages 7.86% and service-sector wages 8.07%.
Within agriculture, wages in agriculture and livestock increased 8.03%, while fisheries wages rose 5.43%. In industry, construction wages grew 7.84% and production wages 7.98%.