Singapore

Singapore’s core inflation continued its decline in November to a three-year low, beating economists’ expectations, on the back of easing food and services costs. Core inflation, which strips out private transport and accommodation costs to better reflect the expenses of households here, fell to 1.9 per cent year on year, from 2.1 per cent in October. This is the lowest since November 2021, when core inflation was 1.6 per cent. Economists polled by Bloomberg had estimated the median core inflation to be 2.1 per cent. Overall – or headline – inflation rose to 1.6 per cent year on year in November, up from 1.4 per cent in October but lower than the Bloomberg poll of 1.8 per cent. The slight increase was led by a more gradual decline in private transport costs. On a month-on-m...

Back in 2020, Singapore Airlines made a surprise move by introducing amenity kits for Business Class passengers, a perk the carrier had long resisted providing, in favour of offering shared amenities in the lavatories and other items such as slippers and eyeshades on request. SIA has now announced that it’s switching to a new brand for these kits, with luxury perfume house Le Labo selected as the the partner for the carrier’s latest Business Class amenity kits. Who is Le Labo?If you’re not already familiar, Le Labo is a luxury fragrance brand known for its minimalist aesthetic, artisanal approach, and high-quality perfumes. Founded in 2006 in New York City by Fabrice Penot and Edouard Roschi, Le Labo (French for “The Lab”) emphasises craftsmanship and personalisation, setting it ...

What’s going on here? Singapore is closely watching November's inflation report, which could influence the Monetary Authority of Singapore’s (MAS) upcoming policy decisions amid global trade uncertainties. What does this mean? November's core inflation in Singapore is expected to remain steady at 2.1%, aligning closely with MAS's quarterly forecast of 2%. However, with economists at DBS Bank predicting a core inflation average of 1.8% by 2025, MAS might hold off on easing until US policies provide a clearer backdrop. Singapore uses the Singapore dollar nominal effective exchange rate (S$NEER) to guide its monetary policy, adjusting factors like slope and width to manage economic conditions. Recent surveys show reduced expectations for a January policy easing, backed by Moody's an...