Singapore's core inflation rose to 1.4 per cent year-on-year in February, up from 1.0 per cent in January, said the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS) and the Ministry of Trade and Industry (MTI) in a press release on Monday (March 23). February's core inflation is the highest since 1.7 per cent was recorded in December 2024. Core inflation was particularly boosted by higher inflation in services, food, and retail and other goods, partly reflecting seasonal effects associated with the Chinese New Year in February, said MAS and MTI.On a month-on-month basis, core prices increased by 0.5 per cent in February.Separately, overall inflation — which excludes all non-consumption expenditures such as purchases of houses, shares and other financial assets — fell to 1.2 per cent year-on-year in February from 1.4 per cent, on the back of lower accommodation and private transport inflation that more than offset higher core inflation. Sector-wise, MAS and MTI noted that accommodation inflation eased from 1.9 per cent in January to 0.3 per cent in February, due to a smaller increase in the cost of housing maintenance and repairs. Read more