Thailand's inflation slows to 2.1-2.6%

Thailand's Commerce Ministry has lowered the consumer price index of inflation for this year from 2. 8-3.4 percent to 2.1-2.6 percent due to the decline in oil price, a strengthened baht and the government's measures to reduce the cost of living, Thai News Agency reported on Wednesday. Srirat Rastapana, Permanent Secretary for commerce, said September inflation inched up by 0.16 percent month-on-month, and by 1.42 percent compared to September last year. Prices of fresh food, rice, eggs, pork, beef, fish, some kind of seafood, cooking gas, electricity and liquor have increased by 0.16 percent and non-food goods by 0.15 percent, she said. Inflation in the first nine months of the year was 2.36 percent, lower than the previous year, she said, adding that cooking gas price increase at 0.5 baht (2 US cents) per month would affect inflation at only 0.006 percent per month.