The Central Statistics Agency (BPS) recorded 0.1% inflation in April 2018. This figure is lower than the previous month's inflation rate of 0.2%, but higher than April 2017's 0.09%. Last month's inflation was the lowest in the last six months.
Cumulatively, the calendar year (January-April) 2018 inflation was 1.09%, and the year-on-year inflation rate (April 2018 compared to April 2017) was 3.41%. Meanwhile, the State Budget targets inflation at 3.5%, plus or minus 1%.
The main rice harvest in several regions and controlled prices of other food commodities resulted in April 2018 having the lowest inflation rate in the first four months of the year. Contributors to last month's inflation included: ready-to-eat food, beverages, tobacco, and cigarettes (0.24%); housing, water, electricity, gas, and fuel (0.16%); clothing (0.29%); health (0.22%); and education, recreation, and sports (0.04%).