Taiwan CPI Picks Up in Oct.

Taiwan’s consumer price inflation accelerated in October, driven by higher fruit and vegetable prices due to bad weather, official data showed on Tuesday, Xinhua reported. The consumer price index, a main gauge of inflation, rose by 1.7% in October from a year ago. That is compared to growth of 0.33% recorded in September, according to the island’s directorate general of budget, accounting and statistics. Food prices climbed by 5.2% from a year earlier as typhoons and heavy rain dampened farm produce output. Vegetable prices surged 24% while fruit prices jumped 7.8%. Compared with a month ago, CPI rose 1.45%. The core CPI, which excludes vegetables, fruit and energy, rose by 0.96% in October year-on-year, the DGBAS said. The wholesale price index, a gauge of production costs, dropped by 1.88% in October from a year earlier. That is narrowed from a fall of 3.79% in September.