BANGKOK, Nov 6 Reuters Thailand39;s annual headline inflation rate quickened in October due to higher energy and food prices, the commerce ministry said on Wednesday, but still remained below the central bank39;s target range of 1 to 3.

The headline consumer price index CPI rose 0.83 in October from a year earlier, the commerce ministry said. That was below a forecast rise of 0.94 in a Reuters poll, and followed September39;s annual increase of 0.61.

The core CPI, which excludes volatile food and energy prices, increased 0.77 in October from a year earlier, in line with a forecast rise of 0.79 in the poll.

For the JanuaryOctober period, average annual headline inflation was 0.26, with core inflation at 0.52.

The commerce ministry maintained its fullyear inflation forecast of 0.2 to 0.8, and Poonpong Naiyanapakorn, director of the ministry39;s trade policy and strategy office, told reporters the 2024 figure would likely come in under 0.5.

Inflation is seen higher than 1 in November and December, and so was expected to be about 1.12 in the final quarter of 2024, Poonpong told a press conference.

Reporting by Kitiphong Thaichareon and Thanadech Staporncharnchai; Editing by John Mair

Source Reuters