Editorial, News & commercial office:
55/A, H M Siddique Mansion (Level-7), Purana Paltan, Motijhel C/A, Dhaka-1000. Phone: +8802226640056,
e-mail: [email protected], [email protected]
Despite official statistics showing a decline in inflation, consumer relief remains elusive in local markets across Bangladesh. Instead, essential commodity prices have surged compared to last year, driving low- and fixed-income households into severe financial strain. To cope with escalating costs, families are progressively trimming their daily food menus, eliminating vital nutrition sources such as fish, meat, eggs, and milk. Recent price hikes in flour, edible oil, sugar, and milk have deepened these anxieties.
Consumers visiting local markets in Dhaka report that even strict budget cuts fail to align with prevailing market rates. Many lower-income workers express frustration over the rising cost of basic goods, noting that purchasing just a few daily staples quickly exhausts their daily earnings. Specialized items like prawns, beef, and even lower-cost cultured fish such as Pangas and Tilapia have registered significant price spikes over the year.
This daily reality contrasts sharply with recent data from the Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), which reported a drop in overall inflation to 8.32 percent in July from 9.16 percent in June, alongside a reduction in food inflation to 7.16 percent. However, findings from the Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD) indicate that more than 60 percent of households allocate at least half of their income solely to food. As food costs remain elevated, families are forced to divert funds away from other critical needs, including healthcare and education.
Trading Corporation of Bangladesh (TCB) data confirms year-on-year price increases across several essential items, most notably edible oils, powdered milk, beef, and poultry. Economic analysts and consumer rights advocate point to market management inefficiencies, complex supply chains involving multiple intermediaries, high transportation costs, and market extortion as key drivers keeping retail prices high. Experts stress that paper statistics will offer little real comfort until structural supply management improves and food inflation falls significantly lower.
https://thedailyexpress.news/news/business/1f19e112-20f3-6290-840e-8492817e0081