consumer price index

The ministry maintained its full-year inflation forecast of 1.5 per cent to 2.5 per cent this year

The CPI increased 0.6% last month after surging 0.9% in March

More sectors to be hit by higher energy and input costs, with firms to pass them down to consumers

The latest numbers are in line with private-sector economists’ estimates

Further increases are likely due to oil prices shooting up on Monday to more than US$100 a ‌barrel

The CPI jumped 0.9% last month, the largest increase since June 2022

Producer prices surged in energy-intensive industries

The central bank’s index reveals that CPI rose 2.2% in February, against the 1.6% benchmark by the internal affairs ministry

With the Iran war driving up oil prices, a further rise in inflation is anticipated in March