Tag

While still in line with central bank projects, the uptick brings year-over-year inflation to its highest level since February.

The decision to maintain the current rate was approved unanimously by all seven members of the board of the Banco de la República.

While this was just 0.01% below the rate recorded in March, this represents the fifth straight month of decline.

The consumer price index (IPC) rose by just 0.24% from February to March, putting the 12-month inflation rate at 3.14%, down from 3.37% in February.

Food costs, which spiked by 7.22% in 2016, saw the lowest increase this year among major economic cateogories with just a small rise of 1.92% in 2017.

An increase over the past month in the recreation prices (up 0.68%) and housing prices (0.30%) helped to push up the overall consumer price index.

The October rate is up slightly from 3.97% last month and puts inflation outside of the central bank’s target rate for the first time since June.

The move continues a year-long rate-cutting trend but surprised a market that expected the Banco de la República to leave the rate steady.

The Banco de la Repúblcia said that its decision was impacted by the "weakness in economic activity."

July's rate of 3.4% is a decrease from the 3.99% seen in June and represents the 12th straight month that inflation has fallen.