Colombia’s inflation rate is expected to be 0.88 percent in January versus 0.69 percent recorded in the same month a year ago, according to a central bank poll of analysts released on Thursday.
Latin America’s No. 4 oil producer had a 3.17 percent inflation rate in 2010, within the the central bank’s target of 2 percent to 4 percent. The monetary authority has kept the same range for this year.
The poll of 45 analysts found on average analysts forecast inflation of 3.57 percent this year, above market expectations of 3.19 percent in the bank’s last poll in December.
Experts expect consumer prices to rise 3.52 percent in 2012, the poll showed.
Inflation outlooks likely reflect the impact of heavy rains that have destroyed crops and roadways and pushed up costs of food and transportation.