TAIPEI (Taiwan News) — Taiwan’s consumer price index rose 1.23% year-on-year in November, the smallest increase since May 2021, the Directorate General of Budget, Accounting, and Statistics said Friday.

Among the seven major categories, five rose: miscellaneous goods climbed 2.84%, healthcare 1.87%, housing 1.86%, food 1.48%, and education and entertainment 1.25%, per UDN. Transportation and communication fell 1.15%, while clothing dropped 0.13%.

Everyday expenses remain elevated. The 17 key daily necessities tracked by the Cabinet rose 2.76% on average, the highest increase in nearly 21 months, per Liberty Times. Eggs surged 15.33%, the largest rise in 31 months while pork rose 8.7% and bread increased 3.09%.

Housing costs showed signs of easing. Rent increased 2.02%, the smallest rise in 27 months. The agency said residential maintenance costs have remained under 2% for several years, while the Ministry of the Interior’s housing price index fell for two consecutive quarters.

International commodity prices showed mixed trends. Crude oil dropped 11.7% year-on-year in November, while other key commodities varied.

Looking ahead, the agency said December’s index is expected to stay below 1.5%, with core CPI around 1.7%, as lingering base effects from last year’s typhoons continue to moderate overall inflation.