The central bank yesterday said that its inflation forecast for this year might be revised to above 2 percent.
Predictions for Taiwan's consumer price index (CPI) growth this year by major Taiwanese and international financial institutions range from 1.70 percent to 2.30 percent, with an average of 1.95 percent, the central bank said in a report.
Factors including "international geopolitical conflicts," weather, potential Taiwan Railway Co fare increases, higher utility rates and the impact of US President Donald Trump's new economic policies are "significant uncertainties" that could affect Taiwan's inflation trends, the bank said.
Photo: Chen Mei-ying, Taipei Times
The central bank in December last year said that CPI growth was expected to be 1.89 percent this year.
The rate has been above the "2 percent inflation warning threshold" for three consecutive years, it said.
Meanwhile, the central bank spent US$16.42 billion last year to stabilize the exchange rate — the most since it began reporting such interventions in 2020.
The New Taiwan dollar depreciated 6.24 percent against the US dollar last year, the report said, a smaller depreciation than against the South Korean won and the Japanese yen.
Central bank officials are scheduled to present an oral report to the Legislature's Finance Committee today.
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