BANGKOK, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's headline inflation continued to increase in June as domestic fuel costs remained elevated, resulting in higher transportation fares and prepared food prices, driven by the Middle East conflict, official data showed on Monday.
The Southeast Asian country's consumer price index (CPI) rose 2.42 percent last month compared to a year earlier, easing further from a 2.79 percent gain in May, according to the Ministry of Commerce.
June marked the third successive month of inflation growth, with the readings staying within the central bank's target range of 1 percent to 3 percent.
Core CPI, which excludes volatile fresh food and energy prices, climbed 1.23 percent year on year in June, accelerating from a 0.92 percent rise in the previous month and marking the strongest growth since June 2023.
For the first half of 2026, the headline CPI expanded 1.08 percent compared to the same period last year.
Looking ahead, the ministry expects headline inflation to continue its uptrend through the third quarter as broadly rising costs for prepared food suggest a permanently higher cost of living, despite some falling production expenses.
Additionally, key fresh vegetable prices are projected to exceed last year's levels due to a low base and risks from the El Nino weather pattern, the ministry said in a statement.
The ministry retained its headline CPI projection to rise between 1.5 percent and 2.5 percent this year. ■
