Taiwan Inflation Hits 31-Month High

Taiwan’s annual inflation rate rose to 2.7% in September 2026 from 2.05% in the previous month. It marked the highest level since February 2024 and the fifth consecutive month above the central bank’s 2% target, as food prices accelerated sharply, advancing to a one-year high of 2.64% from 0.77% in August. Inflation also climbed for transportation and communication (4.07% vs 2.79%), as well as clothing (2.32% vs 2.09%), housing (2.38% vs 2.31%), and healthcare (0.70% vs 0.57%). Meanwhile, price growth moderated slightly in education and entertainment (3.15% vs 3.22%), and miscellaneous goods and services (2.77% vs 2.81%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, consumer prices eased to 0.13% from 0.19% in August, marking the lowest reading since November 2025.

Taiwan’s annual inflation rate slowed to 2.04% in August 2026 from 2.54% in the previous month. While this was the lowest reading since April, it still marked the fourth consecutive month of inflation above the central bank’s 2% target, keeping investors on edge and reinforcing expectations of a rate hike ahead of the Central Bank of the Republic of China’s policy decision next week. Food prices eased sharply to 0.79% from 2.49% in July, marking the lowest increase since deflation in March. Inflation also moderated for housing (2.31% vs 2.32%), health (0.61% vs 0.76%), and miscellaneous goods and services (2.73% vs 3.27%), while education and entertainment remained stable at 3.22%. In contrast, prices accelerated for transportation and communication (2.77% vs 2.72%) and clothing and footwear (2.09% vs 1.66%). On a seasonally adjusted monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.13%, easing from a revised 0.19% in July and hitting their lowest level since November 2025.

Taiwan's annual inflation eased to 2.54% in July 2026 from 2.6% in June, marking the first slowdown in five months but exceeding market expectations of 2.4%. Inflation stayed above the central bank's 2% target for a third consecutive month, as renewed tensions in the Middle East kept global energy prices elevated. The moderation was driven by softer inflation for commodity goods (2.32% vs. 2.49%) and housing (2.20% vs. 2.32%), while clothing inflation edged up (1.67% vs. 1.66%). In contrast, food inflation accelerated to 2.49% from 1.78%, the highest since September 2025. Services inflation also picked up to 2.85% from 2.57%, while inflation accelerated for transport and communication (4.14% vs. 2.72%), health (0.97% vs. 0.76%), and education and entertainment (3.60% vs. 3.22%). On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.18%, the lowest level since the start of the year, after a 0.21% gain in June.