PANAMA CITY, July 13 (Reuters) - Consumer prices in Panama rose 0.1 percent in June compared with May, putting annual inflation at 2.8 percent, the government said on Tuesday.
June inflation was driven up in part by higher beer prices, which pushed general beverage costs higher while overall foodstuff prices also rose, the government said.
Panama's inflation has historically hovered around 1 percent but spiked to 8.7 percent in 2008 as one of Latin America's fastest-expanding economies heated up. The inflation rate dropped to 2.4 percent last year.
Some economists warn that import-dependent Panama risks returning to above-average inflation rates as the country's economy returns to robust growth and oil prices increase.
(Reporting by Sean Mattson; Editing by Dan Grebler) Keywords: PANAMA INFLATION/ (patrick.rucker@thomsonreuters.com; +5255-5282-7153; Reuters Messaging: patrick.rucker.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.
June inflation was driven up in part by higher beer prices, which pushed general beverage costs higher while overall foodstuff prices also rose, the government said.
Panama's inflation has historically hovered around 1 percent but spiked to 8.7 percent in 2008 as one of Latin America's fastest-expanding economies heated up. The inflation rate dropped to 2.4 percent last year.
Some economists warn that import-dependent Panama risks returning to above-average inflation rates as the country's economy returns to robust growth and oil prices increase.
(Reporting by Sean Mattson; Editing by Dan Grebler) Keywords: PANAMA INFLATION/ (patrick.rucker@thomsonreuters.com; +5255-5282-7153; Reuters Messaging: patrick.rucker.reuters.com@reuters.net) COPYRIGHT Copyright Thomson Reuters 2010. All rights reserved. The copying, republication or redistribution of Reuters News Content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Thomson Reuters.