Singapore cuts 2019 core inflation forecast as prices hit three year low
新加坡因物價觸及三年低點，下調2019年核心通脹預期
Singapore’s core inflation eased to its slowest pace in more than three years in July, data showed on Friday, prompting authorities to downgrade their full-year forecast amid firming bets for monetary policy easing.
上周五公布的數據顯示，新加坡7月份核心通脹率降至3年多來的最低水平，這促使有關部門下調了全年通脹預期，因爲市場對貨幣政策放松的押注日益堅定。
The core inflation gauge rose 0.8% from a year earlier, the slowest rate since April 2016, weighed down by declines in utilities and retail prices. That was lower than a 1.0% forecast in a Reuters poll and 1.2% increase in the previous month.
受公用事業和零售價格下跌的拖累，核心通脹率同比上升0.8%，爲2016年4月以來的最低水平。這低于路透調查預測的1.0%和上月1.2%的增幅。
Authorities said they expected core inflation – the preferred price gauge of the central bank which is due to meet in October – to be in the lower half of their 1%-2% forecast for 2019, having previously said it would come in the middle.
有關部門表示，他們預計核心通脹率將處于2019年1%-2%預測值的下半部分。此前，他們曾表示，核心通脹率將處于中間水平。
“This is further evidence of the weakened condition of the economy,” said Steve Cochrane, chief APAC economist at Moody’s Analytics.
“這是經濟狀況疲弱的進一步證據，”穆迪分析(Moody ‘s Analytics)亞太區首席經濟學家史蒂夫•科克倫(Steve Cochrane)表示。
“This will likely raise expectations of monetary policy easing… Particularly as many central banks in the region have already begun to ease monetary policy.”
“這可能會提高人們對貨幣政策放松的預期……特別是在該地區許多央行已經開始放松貨幣政策的情況下。”
The Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) said last week, after the city-state slashed its full-year growth forecast, that it was not considering an out-of-cycle policy move.
新加坡金融管理局(MAS)上周表示，在該國大幅下調全年增長預測後，它沒有考慮采取非周期政策舉措。
The Singapore dollar weakened after the data release, and was down around 0.2% against the U.S. dollar on the day SGD=.
數據公布後，新元走軟，當日新元兌美元下跌約0.2%。
The headline consumer price index in July rose 0.4% year-on-year, matching January’s figures, the lowest so far in 2019. The poll had called for a 0.55% rise, compared with a 0.6% increase a month earlier.
7月份總體消費價格指數同比上漲0.4%，與1月份的數據持平，爲2019年迄今的最低水平。該調查此前預計的增幅爲0.55%，而一個月前的增幅爲0.6%。
Singapore’s headline rate is expected to average 0.5%-1.5% for the full year, MAS and Singapore’s trade ministry said in a joint statement on Friday.
新加坡金融管理局(MAS)和新加坡貿易部周五在一份聯合聲明中表示，預計全年新加坡的總體利率將平均爲0.5%-1.5%。
“An acceleration in inflationary pressures is unlikely against the backdrop of slower GDP growth, uncertainties in the global economy, as well as the continuing restraining effects of MAS’ monetary policy tightening in 2018,” the authorities said.
當局表示:“在國內生産總值(GDP)增長放緩、全球經濟存在不確定性、以及金管局2018年收緊貨幣政策的持續抑制作用的背景下，通脹壓力不太可能加速。”