Mexico annual inflation jumps to highest in almost seven years

Mexico's annual inflation surged to its highest in nearly seven years in February as the weak peso drove up prices of imported goods like cars, data showed on Thursday, in a sign that the central bank could again increase interest rates. Inflation in the 12 months through February rose to 4.86 percent, its highest since March 2010, the national statistics agency said.
That compared with 4.72 percent in January and expectations of 4.82 percent of economists in a Reuters poll. The annual reading of the core index, which strips out some volatile food and energy prices and reflects higher import prices on goods due to the weak peso, rose to 4.26 percent from 3.84 percent in January.