LONDON, July 12 (Reuters) - Copper jumped to 2-1/2-week highs on Wednesday as the dollar tumbled after U.S. June inflation data and stronger credit data from top consumer China, but doubts about a significant pick-up in demand weighed on sentiment.

Benchmark copper on the London Metal Exchange (LME) was up 2.2% at $8,509 a metric ton at 1612 GMT from an earlier $8,525, the highest since June 23.

The dollar index dropped to its lowest since April 2022 after data showed

consumer price inflation easing

in June, suggesting that the Federal Reserve may have to raise interest rates just one more time this year.

A falling U.S. currency makes dollar-denominated metals cheaper for holders of other currencies, which could boost demand. This relationship is used by funds which generate buy and sell signals using numerical models.

"Momentum came after the New York open from soft U.S. inflation numbers," a metals trader said. "China loan data helped support the base complex this morning but there are question marks over Chinese demand."

New bank loans in China jumped more than expected in June, and total social financing data watched by analysts for clues to industrial metals consumption exceeded expectations.

Also on the agenda this week is China trade data and its housing market, which accounts for significant amounts of industrial metals demand.

A Reuters survey showed China's export slump is expected to have accelerated in June, as sluggish overseas economies struggling with inflation and rising interest rates buy up fewer goods from Chinese factories.

Some support for copper prices comes from falling stocks in LME registered warehouses, which at 54,450 tons are down 45% since early June.

However, the discount for cash copper over the three-month contract suggests a lack of concern about supplies on the LME.

On the technical front, a break of the 200-day moving average at $8,450 spurred further buying, traders said.

In other metals, aluminium rose 3.3% to $2,240 a metric ton, zinc added 3.1% to $2,430, lead gained 1.8% to $2,089, tin advanced 3.9% to $29,050 and nickel climbed 5% to $21,745.

(Reporting by Pratima Desai; Editing by Shweta Agarwal, Louise Heavens and Sharon Singleton)