Dhaka, Nov. 24 -- Rising consumption of goods spurs economic activity and demand-driven imports particularly amid some spending splurge on upcoming national elections, in a rebound from persisting slumps.

Consumption contracted in fiscal years 2023 and FY 2024 consecutively amid persistent high inflation, but industry insiders and economists expect this economic parameter to rise this year.

According to a provisional estimate by Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics (BBS), consumption of goods and services grew 3.53 per cent in 2023-24 in an upturn from a rock-bottom 2.52 per cent in the previous fiscal year. However, BBs has not yet released consumption data for 2025.

Except for the pandemic-hit 2019-20, when the consumption-growth rate was...