This time, it's not deflation: economists
They say that during the financial crisis, consumer prices fell across the board; this time, only some segments - car prices, rentals, petrol - behind negative inflation
Add BT as a preferred source
Singapore
SINGAPORE has logged its 12th straight month of negative inflation, marking a stretch of sub-zero readings that has lasted longer than that during the global financial crisis and re-igniting debate over whether the economy is in the grips of deflation.
It is a point economists are taking pains to debunk, even as October's headline inflation eased to -0.8 per cent from September's -0.6 per cent. While the figures seem compelling - the last period of negative headline inflation lasted from July to December 2009 - economists stress that this time, the reasons for negative inflation are critically different.
Copyright SPH Media. All rights reserved.
