SINGAPORE, April 25 Reuters Singapore39;s key consumer price gauge rose in March by its fastest pace in a decade, outpacing economist forecasts, driven by higher inflation for food and services, official data showed on Monday.

The core inflation rate the central bank39;s favoured price measure rose to 2.9 in March on a yearonyear basis, the highest since March 2012. A Reuters poll of economists had forecast a 2.4 increase.

Headline inflation rose to 5.4, the fastest since April 2012, compared with economists39; forecast of 4.7.

Singapore39;s central bank tightened its monetary policy earlier this month, making a double barrel move, as the citystate ramped up its battle against soaring prices made worse by the Ukraine war and global supply snags. 

Reporting by Aradhana Aravindan; Editing by Martin Petty

Source Reuters