Inflation is down 0.5%

These are the Singapore inflation rates for 2009:
January: 2.9%
February: 1.9%
March: 1.6%
April: -0.7%
May: -0.3%
June: -0.5%
July: -0.5%

Clothing and Footwear and Health Care is leading the charge, rising by 2.7% and 2.6% respectively year on year. In fact, the inflation numbers are negative year on year except for Food, Clothing and Footwear, and Healthcare. Although there is a 1.1% inflation rate jump from June 2009, it seemed that we started off with a high inflation base around the same time last year. That's the reason for the negative inflation rates since April.

Judging from the inflation data trend since April, it is highly possible that inflation will hold around 0% to -0.5% until the end of the year. That would translate to 0.1% to 0.2% inflation rate for 2009. Good or bad?