Singapore inflation edges up in July to 1.9%

Inflation in Singapore edged up to 1.9 per cent last month from 1.8 per cent in June, largely due to an increase in private road transport costs after two consecutive months of decline. -- ST FILE PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN  
Inflation in Singapore edged up to 1.9 per cent last month from 1.8 per cent in June, largely due to an increase in private road transport costs after two consecutive months of decline. -- ST FILE PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN  

Inflation in Singapore edged up to 1.9 per cent last month from 1.8 per cent in June, largely due to an increase in private road transport costs after two consecutive months of decline.

The price of private road transport was 2 per cent higher in July, compared to the 2.1 per cent fall in the preceding month, said the Department of Statistics on Friday.

This was due to car prices picking up following the rise in Certificate of Entitlement premiums in June and the implementation of a new surcharge on some cars under the Carbon Emissions-based Vehicle Scheme.

Petrol prices also rose, in line with the recent uptrend in global oil prices.

Accommodation costs increased at a slower pace of 2.6 per cent in July from 4.8 per cent in June, due to the disbursement of Service & Conservancy Charges (S&CC) rebates for HDB households.

Core inflation, which excludes the costs of accommodation and private road transport, slowed to 1.6 per cent in July from 1.7 per cent in June.

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