Peru annual inflation slows in July to 2.13%

Annual inflation in Peru slowed to 2.13 per cent in July even as consumer prices, mainly for food and transportation, rose for the second consecutive month, according to data published by the national statistics agency on Thursday.

Inflation stood at 2.29 per cent in June, within the central bank's target range of between 1 per cent and 3 per cent, according to official data.

In the month of July, consumer prices in the Lima metropolitan area, the benchmark inflation reading in the Andean nation, rose 0.24 per cent.

The monthly rise was twice that of the 0.12 per cent registered in June.

In mid-July, Peru's central bank held its benchmark interest rate at 5.75 per cent in a second consecutive monthly pause, citing stubborn core inflation, which strips out some volatile prices.