SINGAPORE: Core inflation in Singapore rose by the fastest pace in more than two years in August, lifted by higher food prices and a smaller decline in the cost of retail and other goods.

       Core inflation, which excludes accommodation and private road transport costs, rose to 1.1% on a year-on-year basis last month, up from 1% in July, partly due to low base effects. This was the highest increase since the key indicator hit 1.2% in June 2019.

       Meanwhile, overall inflation eased slightly to 2.4%, from 2.5% in July, slightly above the average estimate of economists polled by Bloomberg.

       The moderation reflected lower private transport inflation, which more than offset the rise in core inflation, said the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) yesterday.

       Private transport costs rose at a slower pace of 10.8% year-on-year, compared with 12.6% in July, largely due to a smaller increase in car prices and decline in other private transport services costs.

       Services inflation edged down to 1.2% in August, compared with 1.3% in July, mostly because of a steeper fall in telecommunication services fees.

       Electricity and gas costs also rose at a slower pace – at 9.7% – in August, down from 9.9% the previous month, due to a smaller increase in gas prices.

       However, accommodation inflation rose to 1.7%, compared with 1.4% in July, in line with the stronger pickup in housing rents.

       Food inflation also climbed – to 1.5% – in August, from 1.1% in July, as the prices of non-cooked food and prepared meals saw larger increases.

       The higher costs of non-cooked food were mainly due to a steeper increase in the cost of fruits.

       The cost of retail and other goods fell at a more gradual pace of 1%, compared with the 1.2% decline in July, reflecting higher inflation for personal items and a smaller decline in the cost of personal care products.

       In their statement, the MAS and MTI noted that external inflation has remained elevated but has shown signs of moderating as base effects fade. “Upward pressures on global inflation should ease further over the course of the year. Crude oil prices have declined recently due to concerns over the prospects for the global economy amid the spread of the more contagious Delta variant,” they added.

       MAS and MTI said: “The supply-demand mismatches in some goods markets, as well as bottlenecks in global transportation, are mainly transitory and should ease with the gradual recovery in production and logistics services.

       “Spare capacity in some of Singapore’s key trading partners should help to moderate overall import price inflation this year,” they added.

       Locally, lingering uncertainty as Singapore transitions to a “Covid-resilient state” could weigh on consumer sentiment and hence dampen domestic price increases in the near term, the agencies said.

       “Wage increases should continue to be restrained as the slack in the labour market, while diminishing, will take time to be fully absorbed,” they said.

       “Meanwhile, commercial rents are projected to stay low, capping overall business cost pressures. In comparison, private transport inflation is likely to remain resilient due to firm demand for cars. Accommodation inflation could continue to pick up over the course of the year on the back of strong demand for rental accommodation,” said MAS and MTI.

       Core inflation is expected to increase gradually in the coming months, while the likely pickup in accommodation inflation could result in a modest rise in overall inflation in the fourth quarter of 2021, they added.

       Core inflation is officially forecast to average between 0% and 1% for the year, while overall inflation is predicted to come in between 1% and 2%. — The Straits Times/ANN