Thailand's headline consumer price index (CPI) rose a less than forecast 2.83% in March from a year earlier, the slowest pace in 15 months due to lower energy and food prices, the Commerce Ministry said on Wednesday.
The reading compared with a forecast rise of 3.30% in March in a Reuters poll. The core CPI index was up 1.75% in March from a year ago, versus a forecast increase of 1.82%.
Headline inflation returned to the Bank of Thailand's (BoT) target range of 1% to 3% for the first time in 15 months.
The Commerce Ministry forecast inflation to fall further in the second quarter, helped by lower oil prices, government support measures and a high base last year, Trade Policy and Strategy Office deputy director-general Wichanun Niwatjinda told a news conference.
The ministry now predicts headline inflation to be 1.7% to 2.7% this year, down from a previous forecast of 2% to 3%, the ministry said in a statement.
