Living costs rise 6.4pc

Cost of living increased by 6.47pc while prices of commodities and services by 5.81pc in Dhaka in the just concluded year.

Consumers Association of Bangladesh (CAB) revealed this information in a study report published today.

According to CAB statistics, cost of living had increased by 6.38pc in 2015.

Except a few items, commodity prices remained static, to a large extent, in 2016 compared to the previous year, said the CAB report.

The CAB study report has been prepared after reviewing the prices of 14 services, 114 food items and 22 other daily necessities in 15 markets in the city.

The report says prices of rice and pulses increased in 2016. The price of rice increased by 2.87pc while pulses about 10pc on an average.

The CAB report says that the prices of all varieties of rice witnessed upward trends in both wholesale and retail markets towards the end of the year though those were almost static throughout the year.