Mexico inflation jumps to 10-month high

Mexican consumer prices rose more than expected in early February to their highest since last April on a surge in food costs, but core inflation showed only modest pressure from a deep slump in the peso.

Inflation in the 12 months through mid-February MXCPHI=ECI was 2.94 percent, higher than a forecast 2.86 percent rate in a Reuters poll and up from 2.75 percent in the second half of January. This was the second monthly increase in a row.

Mexican full-month inflation hit successive record lows from May through December, but the annual pace of . . .