Panama: Consumer prices fall in annual terms for third consecutive month in March
Consumer prices rose 0.4% month-on-month in March, up from the 0.1% increase logged in February. According to the National Comptroller’s Office (Contraloría General de la República), higher transport prices—due notably to a rebound in crude oil markets since the start of the year—drove the overall print. In addition, price increases were registered for alcohol and tobacco; communication; health; housing and utilities; hotels and restaurants; and furniture and household goods.
In annual terms, consumer prices fell 0.2% in March, up from February’s 0.5% decline. Annual average inflation, meanwhile, was stable at February’s 0.6%.