Inflation update (September 2014): Food and rental inflation accelerate

The Central Department of Statistics and Information (CDSI) has released Consumer Price Index data for September, showing a rise in prices by 2.8 percent year-on-year, staying at the same level compared to the previous month. Foodstuffs and housing have continued to be the main sources of inflation as they all accelerated in August and September. We expect external factors contribution to inflation to remain subdued, particularly given a strengthening USD and the bleaker prospects of global economic growth. We revise our estimates for average annual inflation to 2.8 percent for 2014, slightly down from 2.9 percent.