Fruit and Vegetable Prices Lead Increases in October

Inflation has picked up speed again in the first half of October, although the price increase was lower than what analysts had anticipated. In the first fifteen days of this month, the national consumer price index (CPI) stood at 4.69% year-on-year, a figure below the 4.7% predicted by Citibanamex respondents. However, this number was higher than the 4.58% observed in September.

The most significant increases were seen in the following products: Nopales: 18.9%, Electricity: 18.07%, Zucchini: 15.56%, Papaya: 15.51%, Tomatillo: 14.8%, and Air Travel: 10.29%. On the other hand, the products that saw the most significant price drops were: Lime: -15.02%, Orange: -8.49%, Bananas: -6.63%, Avocado: -4.42%, and LP Gas: -1.86%.

As for core inflation, it stands at 3.87%, exceeding the 3.82% that the market expected, while the non-core index reached 7.17% annually, according to a report from Inegi. Within core inflation, which is considered a more effective indicator for assessing price behavior, other services and tuition fees experienced the largest increases at 5.96% and 5.79%, respectively, followed by services (5.03%) and housing (4%). When it comes to non-core inflation, fruits and vegetables led the increases with a rise of 12.81%; following them were airports (9.66%), livestock products (6.26%), and energy (5.19%). Compared to the previous half-month, inflation increased by 0.43%.

It's interesting to see how certain food products are experiencing such marked price fluctuations. Consumers need to stay alert to these changes, as they can significantly impact their monthly budgets. Constant monitoring of inflation and market behavior can be a valuable tool for those looking to make more informed financial decisions and adjust their consumption habits.