The average rate shows that consumer prices edged down to 5.28 percent in the third quarter (January-March) of this fiscal year from 5.78 percent a year ago. Breaking with the norm, Kamal weighed in and took the job of his subordinate by starting releasing inflation data at a regular media briefing that usually comes on Tuesdays. Calculations show that the data the minister presented at Tuesday's presser was actually an average of three monthly figures: 5.15+5.32+5.39/3=5.28. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 5.39 percent year-on-year in March, the highest in five months. Professor MA Taslim, who teaches economics at Dhaka University, said the method of averaging three monthly figures for inflation is at odds with the global practice.

Source: bd News24 May 16, 2017 19:30 UTC