Inflation in the 12 months through mid-January eased to 3.08 percent, data from Mexico’s national statistics office showed on Thursday. The figure was well below the 4.08 percent in the full month of December and the 3.45 percent expected in a Reuters poll.
Mexico’s central bank has said it expects inflation to approach its 3 percent target by midyear, but has said a slump in the peso could add to inflationary pressures.
Mexico’s currency has recovered a bit after hitting its weakest in nearly six years this month, but it has lost more than 12 percent against the U.S. dollar since the start of September.
Consumer prices fell 0.19 percent in early January, compared with expectations of a 0.19 percent rise, as prices for tomatoes eased and long-distance telephone calls dropped due to telecommunications reform, according to the data.
Core prices, which strip out some volatile food and energy costs, were down 0.09 percent in the half-month, below expectations of a 0.18 percent rise. (Reporting by Alexandra Alper; Editing by Simon Gardner and Jeffrey Benkoe)
