Monetary policy won't change in April, despite headline inflation uptick: Analysts

HEADLINE inflation returned to positive territory for the first time in nearly a year, as all-items consumer prices rose year on year in January.

But with core inflation still underwater, economists do not expect the central bank to tweak monetary policy at its next review in April.

The headline return to growth "signals a good start to the year in terms of spending", said Prakash Sakpal, senior Asia economist at ING, as the all-items consumer price index (CPI) rose by 0.2 per cent year on year on higher car prices and housing costs.