MAS could ease policy in April, after Singapore core inflation slowed sharply to 0.8% in January: economists

SOME economists expect another easing of Singapore’s monetary policy in April, after core inflation fell sharply to 0.8 per cent in January, according to Department of Statistics data on Monday (Feb 24).

Several economists also lowered their inflation forecasts. However, official full-year forecast ranges for both core and headline inflation remained unchanged in a joint release by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI).

January’s core inflation, which excludes accommodation and private transport, was significantly below both December’s 1.7 per cent rate and the median forecast of 1.5 per cent by private-sector economists in a Bloomberg poll.