Thailand 's inflationary pressure went further up in February, mainly due to an increase in food and beverage prices.

Commerce Ministry’s Permanent Secretary Yanyong Phuangrach said on Mar. 1 that Thai headline inflation in February rose 3.35 percent to 113.63 year-on-year.

The February 2012 consumer price index (CPI) was also 0.37 percent higher than that in January.

Yanyong added that the country’s average CPI during the first two months of this year shows a 3.36 percent year-on-year increase.

The Commerce Ministry’s Permanent Secretary stated that such an increase has mainly been caused by a 7.18 percent rise in the food and beverage index.
Despite this, the Commerce Ministry has insisted on keeping its 2012 inflation target unchanged at 3.8 percent for the time being.-VNA