A drop in inflation was expected — but "its magnitude was much greater than we anticipated," said Bancolombia. A sharp decline in food prices fueled the major rebound.
The inflation rate in Colombia has hit yet another 16-year high, rising to 8.97% in July compared to 8.60% in June. Consumer prices jumped much more than expected.
“This strike, which lasted 45 days, has been very costly for everyone,” said Colombia President Juan Manuel Santos in announcing the deal reached with the truckers.
To fight the highest inflation Colombia has seen in 15 years, the nation's central bank raised its benchmark interest rate, up 25 basis points to 7.5%, for the tenth consecutive month.