DGBAS cites cold spell as factor in consumer price rise

Consumer prices rose last month for the second consecutive month due to arise in vegetable and seafood prices, the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (DGBAS) announced yesterday.

The consumer price index (CPI) last month rose 2.31 percent year-on-year to 101.95 points as a result of rising food and oil prices, after climbing 1.93 percent in February, the DGBAS said.

The agency said figure was up 0.3 percent month-on-month mainly due to recovering service charges amid increasing cost of vegetables due to spells of cold weather. Seasonally adjusted, the March figure was up 0.22 percent from the previous month, it said.

While the last month's CPI was the highest since last November, an official said there was little reason to worry about inflation.