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sharply to 9.57 percent in April from 9.09 percent a month earlier, indicating sustained increases in the costs of fuel, transport and other services.

Soumik Das, chief executive officer of Rang Bangladesh, said sales this year were disappointing, with businesses only managing to match last year’s weak figures.

He said retailers had expected stronger sales following the change in government and the beginning of what many hoped would be a better economic period, but those expectations were not realised.

According to him, the overall market remained sluggish, leaving many entrepreneurs frustrated as expectations for Eid-ul-Azha sales had been high while actual consumer spending stayed low.

He added that middle- and lower-middle-income consumers may have prioritised spending on sacrificial animals or become more cautious about discretionary expenses.

Retailers usually face intense pressure during Eid shopping seasons and often require additional temporary workers and support staff to manage crowds.

This year, however, retailers said there was no such pressure.

Rang Bangladesh did not hire additional temporary staff, and office employees were not required to assist at outlets during weekends as customer turnout remained close to regular off-season levels, Soumik added.

Khalid Mahmood Khan, co-founder of Kay Kraft, said the share of Eid-ul-Azha sales in overall annual business has declined in recent years, with recent growth driven largely by repeated promotional campaigns.

According to him, such “price offers” helped attract customers and increase product movement, but significantly reduced profit margins for businesses.

Khalid said this year’s Eid-ul-Azha recorded higher product sales compared to the past few years, but mostly at lower prices.

In many cases, businesses were forced to sell products with little or no profit simply to maintain market activity and sustain customer buying habits, he added.

A senior official of a leading footwear company said extreme heat and heavy rainfall in recent weeks significantly disrupted customer movement and reduced footfall at retail outlets.

The official said consumer buying patterns were also shifting, with demand falling particularly for higher-priced products.

Inflation has weakened purchasing power across both premium and lower-priced market segments, he added.

Azharul Hoque Azad, also president of FEAB, said retail businesses are heavily influenced by political and social conditions.

He said recent incidents of crime, accidents and killings have negatively affected public sentiment and consumer confidence.