People buy food and snacks for the Lunar New Year holiday in Taipei’s Dihua Street yesterday. Photo: CNA“People might feel the pinch more acutely,” since food costs, the largest chunk making up the index and an expense all consumers need to bear, advanced 4.1 percent, Tsao said. Meat prices were up 5.63 percent, while processed food items and dining out costs rose 4.31 percent and 4 percent each. By contrast, vegetable prices tumbled 14.54 percent year-on-year, as ample supply weighed on their value and helped mitigate overall food costs, Tsao said. Core CPI, a more reliable long-term price tracker because it strips volatile items, increased 1.64 percent, also well inside 2 percent territory, DGBAS data showed.
