Bangladesh’s annual inflation rate climbed to 9.42% in May 2026, up from 9.04% in April, reaching its highest level since January 2025. Price pressures strengthened across most major categories as the ongoing conflict in the Middle East disrupted energy supply chains and drove up import costs for the energy-dependent economy.
Bangladesh, which relies heavily on imported fuel, remains particularly exposed to shipping disruptions through the Strait of Hormuz. These disruptions have compounded the financial burden of the country’s delayed energy transition, further intensifying overall inflationary pressures.
By category, inflation quickened for food and non-alcoholic beverages (9.06% vs 8.39% in April), housing and utilities (9.26% vs 8.92%), and transport (9.86% vs 9.31%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged up just 0.03%, a sharp slowdown from the 0.70% increase in April and the smallest monthly gain since the bout of consumer deflation recorded in November 2025.
