(Bloomberg) — Chile’s consumer prices fell last month for the first time since June, giving the central bank only limited relief as it monitors inflationary threats including electricity tariff hikes.
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Prices fell 0.2% in December, compared to the median estimate for no change from analysts in a Bloomberg survey. Annual inflation accelerated to 4.5%, the national statistics institute reported on Wednesday.
Chilean central bankers led by Rosanna Costa have cut borrowing costs by 6.25 percentage points since mid-2023 to the current level of 5%. Still, policymakers have signaled plans to pause easing as electricity tariff hikes reverberate through the economy and the peso trades near a record low. The monetary authority sees annual inflation slowing to the 3% target only next year.
The costs of both alcoholic beverages and clothing fell 1.3% on the month in December, the national statistics agency reported. Food dropped by 0.9%, while energy rose 0.7%.
While borrowing costs are expected to fall further, the future path for rates should consider short-term inflationary risks, central bankers wrote in minutes to their December policy meeting. The board also wanted to communicate that the “window” for pauses to the easing cycle was “open,” the minutes showed.
The peso has dropped about 10% against the dollar in the past year amid global strength of the greenback. A weaker exchange rate fans inflation by making imports more expensive, and Chile’s small and open economy is particularly vulnerable because it obtains almost all of its fuels from abroad.
Regionally, other Latin American countries such as Brazil, Mexico and Colombia have also struggled to haul inflation back to their respective targets following a post-pandemic surge in consumer prices.
–With assistance from Giovanna Serafim.
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