The key consumer price index in April fell 1.5 percent from a year earlier for the 14th straight monthly decline, the government said Friday, indicating mild deflation persists, in line with the government's view.
However, the pace of decline widened for the first time in eight months, largely because of a newly introduced tuition waiver at high schools. Analysts meanwhile projected that the pace of decline will begin to follow a shrinking trend on the back of an expected economic recovery.
The core nationwide CPI, which excludes volatile fresh food prices, stood at 99.2 against the base of 100 for 2005, the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry said in a preliminary report.