Singapore Consumer Prices Flat in September

By Ronnie Harui

SINGAPORE--Singapore's consumer prices were flat in September, as a rise in food, transport, communication and household durables and services costs offset a decline in prices in other areas such as clothing and footwear.

The consumer-price index was unchanged in September from a year earlier, compared with the 0.4% drop in August, the Department of Statistics said Friday. The median estimate in a Wall Street Journal survey of 13 economists was for a 0.2% decline.

Food prices, which have a 21.10% weighting in the index, climbed 1.8% in September, the data showed.

The cost of transportation, which has an index weighting of 17.07%, rose 0.5%. The cost of housing and utilities, which makes up 24.84% of the index, dropped 0.7%.

Core CPI, which strips out private road transport and accommodation costs, fell 0.1% in September following August's 0.3% decline. The median estimate in a WSJ survey of 12 economists was for a 0.25% drop.

Write to Ronnie Harui at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

10-23-20 0121ET