Singapore’s core inflation falls to 1.8% in December; lowest since November 2021

SINGAPORE: Singapore’s main prices fell to 1. 8 per share year-on-year in December  from 1. 9 per share in November.  

The drop was due to a moderation in services inflation, the Monetary Authority of Singapore ( MAS ) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry ( MTI ) said on Thursday ( Jan 23 ).

The next day key inflation was lower was in November 2021, when it came in at 1. 6 per share.

On a month-on-month schedule, core inflation –  which excludes hospitality and personal transportation – increased 0. 5 per share.  

However, overall inflation was constant at 1. 6 per share on-year in December.

” This was because lower key and hotel prices was offset by a lighter decline in private transportation costs,” MAS and MTI said.

On a month-on-month base, overall inflation – which excludes non-consumption expenses such as buying of buildings, stock and other financial assets and income taxes  – rose 0. 3 per share.

For the whole of 2024, key prices averaged 2. 7 per share, over from 4. 2 per share in 2023.

General prices came in at 2. 4 per share for 2024, along from 4. 8 per cent the past month.