TAIPEI (TVBS News) — The Directorate General of Budget, Accounting and Statistics (主計總處) reported Friday (Feb. 7) a significant increase in Taiwan's Consumer Price Index (CPI) for January, reaching an annual growth rate of 2.66%.
This marks the highest rate in 11 months since last February's Lunar New Year, driven by increased travel and taxi costs and rising prices for vegetables, meat, dining out, and rent. The agency noted that the shifting Lunar New Year, typically in January or February, led to higher taxi surcharges and entertainment fees, suggesting observers consider the average CPI for both months.
Despite some declines in egg and vehicle prices, these increases contributed to the overall rise. Excluding vegetables, fruit, and energy, the core CPI rose by 2.26%. Among the seven categories of price changes, miscellaneous items saw the highest annual increase at 4.16%, influenced by personal care and grooming services, which rose 14.98% and 4.97%, respectively.
Additionally, personal accessories like jewelry increased by 7.69%. The food category experienced a 3.72% rise, with vegetable prices soaring 20.30% due to low base numbers and pre-holiday demand. Dining out costs rose by 3.17%, while rent increased by 2.48%, indicating a persistent upward trend despite a slight decrease in rent growth. January's Producer Price Index (PPI) also climbed, showing a 0.58% rise from the previous month and a 3.87% increase from last year.