BANGKOK, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's headline inflation fell for the first time in 25 months in October as energy and food prices softened due to government measures, official data showed on Monday.
The consumer price index (CPI), a key indicator of inflation, declined 0.31 percent from a year earlier last month, down from a 0.30 percent increase in August, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
The October inflation growth was below the Bank of Thailand's target range of 1-3 percent for the sixth month.
The core CPI, which excludes raw food and energy prices, edged up to 0.66 percent in October from 0.63 percent in the previous month.
Headline inflation is expected to decrease slightly in November owing to a downward trend in food prices and last year's high comparative base, said Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director general of the ministry's Trade Policy and Strategy Office.
However, increasing domestic demand on the back of tourism recovery and higher prices of key agricultural products, along with ongoing geopolitical tensions, could disrupt inflation expectations, Poonpong told a news conference.
He also noted that the ministry still maintains its headline inflation growth forecast for 2023 at 1.0 percent to 1.7 percent. ■
