http://www.straitstimes.com/Money/St...ry_628678.html

Jan 27, 2011

Inflation will ease in second half: MAS


THE Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) reassured the public yesterday that the current rise in prices is expected to ease later this year.

'Headline inflation is expected to be higher over the next few months, mainly due to the recent surge in COE premiums and global food prices,' the central bank said, referring to the jump in certificate of entitlement (COE) prices over the last few months.

'However, we expect it to moderate in the second half of 2011,' it added in a brief two-paragraph statement.

The MAS said it has 'received a number of queries on the issue of rising inflation'.

Inflation hit a two-year high of 4.6 per cent in December and economists now expect full-year inflation to come in above the MAS forecast of 2 to 3 per cent.

The MAS also said it 'continuously monitors price developments closely, and will announce any revision to the inflation forecast' when it releases the fourth-quarter economic data next month.