The consumer price index for the month was slightly lower than the 12.14 per cent recorded in September. The figure stood at 0.45 per cent for month on month, compared with 0.97 per cent for September, the agency said.

A Dow Jones Newswires survey of 10 regional economists produced a median inflation forecast of 0.45 per cent month on month and 11.83 per cent year on year.

Agency chairman Rusman Heriawan cited a broad easing in global prices, due to slowing demand, for the milder rise in local prices.

He said, however, that raw-food costs rose 0.71 per cent due to a 3.48 per cent month on month rise in prices for fish and chicken.

Prices for processed food rose 0.77 per cent, preventing the inflation rate from easing more. -- AFP