Inflation still low in developed countries
Print Edition
INFLATION slowed in major developed countries in February amid a steep drop in energy prices, a report said yesterday.
The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development said consumer price inflation in its 34 member countries slowed to 1.4 percent in February from 1.7 percent in January.
Low inflation has become a key concern for many developed countries. If consumers and businesses put off purchases in the hope of cheaper deals later, that can hurt growth.
An outright drop in prices, called deflation, can be very hard to reverse. Japan was stuck in deflation for about two decades, during which time its economy barely grew.
The United States inflation rate was 1.1 percent in February, while the European Union’s was just 0.8 percent, well below the 2 percent many economists deem a suitable level.
However, the OECD, a think-tank for the world’s most developed countries, said that excluding volatile food and energy prices, core inflation for its 34 members was stable for a fourth month running at 1.6 percent.
Inflation in G20 countries, which includes major developing countries such as Indonesia, India and Brazil, slowed to 2.3 percent in February from 2.6 percent in January, it said.
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