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Mexican inflation up less than expected on energy, farm prices

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Mexican consumer prices rose 0.01 percent during the first half of June, the national statistics agency said.

Consumer prices were up by an annualized 4.00pc during the first half of this month, data from national statistics agency INEGI showed, compared to an expected 4.08pc rise previously estimated by a Reuters poll.

Prices on an annualized basis rose 4.13pc during the second half of May.

Core inflation, which strips out some volatile energy and agricultural prices, was up 3.87pc in the year through the first half of June compared to the year-earlier period.

Core inflation climbed 0.16pc during the first half of June, the data showed.

Higher prices for chicken and air transport were among the sectors that contributed most to the June inflation figures, while prices for low-octane gasoline as well as cooking and heating gas helped slow the rise.

Meanwhile, the country's economy grew only slightly in April, up 0.1pc compared to the previous month, helped by industrial activity which offset weakness in agriculture, trade and services.

Compared to April of last year, the Mexican economy contracted by 1.4 percent, the INEGI data showed.

The government forecasts economic growth of between 1.1pc and 2.1pc this year.

Copyright Reuters, 2019