TAIPEI, Nov. 5 (Xinhua) -- Consumer prices in the Taiwan region rose 2.33 percent in October from a year earlier, remaining above the island's inflation warning threshold for a sixth consecutive month, official data showed Thursday, as higher food, fuel and travel costs continued to put pressure on household budgets.
The island's statistics agency said the consumer price index (CPI) edged up 0.06 percent from September. Core CPI, which excludes fresh vegetables, fruit and energy, increased 2.23 percent year on year.
The agency mainly attributed October's inflation to higher prices for food, fuel and travel-related services. Food costs remained a particular burden for consumers, with egg prices climbing 11.45 percent year on year and the cost of edible oils rising 5.34 percent.
Due to factors that included international oil prices, transportation costs on the island also increased. Housing-related expenses, including rents and residential management fees, are also on the rise.
Meanwhile, inflationary pressures remained pronounced at the production level. Taiwan's producer price index (PPI) jumped nearly one-fifth in October from a year earlier, driven mainly by higher prices for petroleum and coal products, electronic products, and chemical materials.
The PPI rose by an average of 11.12 percent in the first 10 months of the year, pointing to persistent cost pressures on producers that may be further passed on to consumers.
Despite headline figures showing economic growth and rising per capita GDP, economists and commentators have pointed to deep-rooted structural problems in Taiwan's economy, including wage stagnation, soaring housing prices and overreliance on the semiconductor sector.
Traditional industries and small businesses continue to face mounting pressure. Concerns over labor shortages, energy security and demographic decline have also weighed on the island's long-term economic outlook. ■
