Singapore core inflation cools while acceleration risks loom

The core consumer price index (CPI) tracked by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) – which excludes private transport and accommodation costs – rose 2.2% in February, below the median forecasts in a Bloomberg survey for a 2.6% increase and the 2.4% pace in January.

SINGAPORE: Core inflation in Singapore cooled slightly last month but is expected to pick up further in the near-term, setting the stage for further policy tightening by the country’s central bank in the coming weeks.

The core consumer price index (CPI) tracked by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) – which excludes private transport and accommodation costs – rose 2.2% in February, below the median forecasts in a Bloomberg survey for a 2.6% increase and the 2.4% pace in January.