TAIPEI (TVBS News) — Taiwan's inflation rate slowed in October, reaching a 3.5-year low, the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS, 主計總處) said on Wednesday (Nov. 6). The consumer price index (CPI) rose 1.69% year-over-year, indicating a continued easing inflationary pressure.
Core CPI, which excludes volatile items like vegetables and energy, also decreased, growing only 1.64% year-over-year. This suggests a reduction in upward price pressures. However, Typhoon Krathon caused agricultural losses, pushing up prices for vegetables and fruits. Additionally, the cost of cooking oil and dining out increased.
While rents and registration fees continued to rise, drops in egg prices, fuel costs, and airfare offset some of these gains. The CPI for essential goods fell 0.62% in October, marking a more considerable decline than September's, reflecting a decrease in prices for particular necessities.