Annual inflation in Brazil hit a six-year high in September, government data showed on Friday. The benchmark IPCA consumer price index rose 7.31% in the 12 months through September -- above the official target range ceiling of 6.5% for the sixth straight month and the highest 12-month rate since May 2005.
Argentina's construction activity rose 7.3% on the year in August, as builders and private investors continued to benefit from a booming economy and high inflation.
Uruguay’s Central bank kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged as policymakers focus on bringing inflation back to target in anticipation of possible impacts from a global slowdown.
Nicolas Eyzaguirre, the IMF director for Latin America, stated that Argentina must apply “major measures” to improve its method of measuring the inflation.
China's rate of inflation eased in August, after hitting a three-year high in July, according to the National Statistics Bureau. Consumer prices in the world's second largest economy rose 6.2% from a year earlier, down from 6.5% in July.
Venezuelan July inflation, as measured by the national index INPC, came in on the high side of expectations at 2.7%, up from June.
Inflation in China was higher than expected in July, despite a series of efforts by the government to rein in prices. Consumer prices in July rose 6.5% compared with the same month last year, the National Bureau of Statistics said.
According to Argentina’s statistics office Indec consumer inflation was 0.7% pushed mostly by the cost of clothing. However private economic consulting offices estimate the index was double the official announcement.
Inflation in China has risen to its highest level for three years, despite a series of interest rate rises and curbs on bank lending. Prices in June rose 6.4% from a year earlier, well above the rate for May.
The European Central Bank (ECB) decided on Thursday to raise interest rates to 1.5% from 1.25% in an attempt to cool inflation in the 17-nation Euro zone. ECB president Jean-Claude Trichet said that inflation, now 2.7%, was likely to remain clearly above the ECB 2% target over the coming months.