Inflation eases for a third month as food prices stabilise

Consumer price growth slowed for a third consecutive month, according to the latest figures, driven mainly by a flat vegetable basket and softer transport costs.

Food and beverage inflation, the largest single component of the index for most households, was the main contributor to the deceleration.

What households feel

Headline figures rarely match household experience, because the basket weights an average that few families match exactly. Rent and education costs, both heavily weighted for urban families, rose faster than the index.

Policy implications

A slower price path gives the central bank more room, though officials have signalled they intend to hold rather than ease while external conditions remain uncertain.