Panama consumer prices down 0.6 pct in September

(reuters.com) Consumer prices in Panama fell 0.6 percent in September from the previous month, bringing the 12-month inflation rate to 0.5 percent, the national statistics agency said on Wednesday.

Panama's annual inflation rate has slowed sharply this year from 8.7 percent in 2008 as the country's economy slows due to slower shipping trade through its interoceanic canal.

Falling electricity, gasoline and fruit prices contributed to the one-month inflation drop, the agency said.

Inflation has also been dampened by a drop in housing, water, gas and electricity prices, which grouped together fell 10.7 percent compared to a year earlier, the agency said. (Reporting by Sean Mattson; Editing by James Dalgleish)

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Original Source: http://www.reuters.com/article/companyNewsAndPR/idUSN1425969120091014
Date Retrieved: October 15, 2009