SINGAPORE: Singapore’s main prices remained at 3.1 per cent , in April,  , constant from March.
According to data from the Monetary Authority of Singapore ( MAS ) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry ( MTI), a rise in retail inflation was offset by slower price increases in services and food.
Core inflation, which excludes lodging and private transportation, increased by 0.4 % in April, according to MAS and MTI on a month-a-month basis on Thursday ( May 23 ).
However consumer price index, or headline inflation, even remained constant at 2.7 per cent in April.
On a quarter- on- quarter basis, title inflation increased by 0.1 per share in April.
As costs increased as a result of higher increases in electricity and gas prices, electricity inflation increased to 7.6 % in April from 4.8 %.
Financial and other goods prices increased from 0.7 per share in March to 1.6 % in April.
MAS and MTI attributed the prices boost to a rise in the prices of clothing and footwear, as well as a steeper rise in the costs of individual effects.
According to MAS and MTI, service prices significantly decreased to 3.5 % from 3.9 % “on the back of a larger decline in tickets and a more reasonable rate of increase in holiday bills.”
Food prices decreased to 2.8 % in April from 3.0 percent in March, primarily as a result of slower food prices and higher rates for non-cooked food and services.
Private transportation prices increased to 0.3 % in April from a month earlier, when automobile prices slid to a slower level and gasoline prices soared more sharply.
According to MAS and MTI, housing inflation decreased further to 3.5 % from 3.7 % as a result of lower housing rent increases and the cost of maintenance and repairs.