Singapore core inflation eases to 2.5% in July

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s core inflation in July dropped to 2.5 per cent year-on-year, driven by lower inflation across all broad core consumer price index ( CPI ) categories.

July’s figure is also a dip from June’s 2.9 per cent, said the&nbsp, Monetary Authority of Singapore ( MAS ) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry ( MTI ) on Friday ( Aug 23 ).

On a month-on-month basis, key inflation- which excludes hospitality and personal transport- fell by 0.1 per cent.

In July, the overall or headline ( CPI-All Items ) inflation rate remained unchanged at 2.4 percent, despite a decline in hotel and core inflation that was partially offset by a rise in private transportation costs. &nbsp,

On a month-on-month schedule, headline inflation fell by 0.3 per share.

Services prices moderated mainly to 2.9 per cent year-on-year in July, from 3.4 per share year-on-year in June, on the backside of a slower rate of increase in holiday bills.

Accommodation prices was significantly lower at 3.1 per share year-on-year in July, from 3.3 per share in June, as&nbsp, housing prices rose at a more reasonable rate. &nbsp,

Food prices edged along to 2.7 per cent year-on-year in July, from 2.8 per share in June, according to smaller&nbsp, rises in the costs of both non-cooked food&nbsp, and meal service.

Financial and other items inflation&nbsp, eased to 0.3 per share year-on-year in July, from 0.5 per cent in June, as the&nbsp, charges of clothes, non-durable household items &nbsp, and personal consequences fell.

Electric and gas inflation&nbsp, controlled to 6.6 per share year-on-year in July, from 6.9 per share in June, on account&nbsp, of a smaller increase in electricity costs.

Personal transport costs picked up to 0.9 per share year-on-year in July, reversing from -0.7 per share year-on-year in June, according to smaller&nbsp, declines in the prices of cars and motorcycles alongside a sharper increase in diesel prices.