East Timor Inflation Rate at Over 2-Year Low

East Timor's annual inflation rate dropped to 4.3% in January 2024 from 8.7% in December 2023.

It was the lowest inflation rate since September 2021, with food prices rising the least in 13 months (7.4% vs 12.4%).

Also, prices advanced softer for alcohol & tobacco (6.0% vs 23.6% in December 2023) and education (2.0% vs 7.0%).

Simultaneously, prices fell for transport (-3.6% vs -2.6%), housing (-1.5% vs -0.4%), clothing & footwear (-0.1% vs 0.6%), communication (-0.3% vs 0.7%), and household equipment & routine household maintenance (-2.9% vs -3.2%).

On the other hand, prices of health were unchanged for at least the past five months while those of recreation & culture rebounded (1.5% vs -1.7%).

Monthly, consumer prices were down 0.4% in January, reversing from a 0.3% rise in the prior month and marking the first decline in nine months.