Israel: Inflation stable at 0.2% in March
Consumer prices increased 0.3% on a month-on-month basis in March, faster than February’s 0.1% rise. March’s acceleration, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS), was the result of higher prices for household services and recreation, as well as for clothing and footwear.
Inflation was stable from a month earlier at 0.2%, matching analysts’ expectations. For another month, inflation remained far below the Bank of Israel’s 1.0%–3.0% target range. Moreover, annual average inflation came in at 0.2% for the fifth consecutive month.
Meanwhile, core inflation—which excludes volatile energy prices—ticked up to 0.2% in March from 0.1% a month earlier.