Taiwan: Consumer prices unchanged in March
Consumer prices decreased 0.45% in March compared with the previous month, following February’s revised 1.06% decrease (previously reported: -1.08%). The fall was broad-based, but predominantly driven by lower prices for transport, clothing, and education and entertainment. In a similar fashion, food costs ticked lower in March.
Core consumer prices, which exclude prices for energy, fruits and vegetables, inched 0.03% lower in March in month-on-month terms, having decreased 0.81% in February.
In year-on-year terms, consumer prices flatlined in March, having fallen 0.2% in February—which had marked the first drop in prices since December 2018. Lastly, annual average inflation inched down to 0.6% from 0.7% in February.