Singapore's consumer price index (CPI) inflation rate was 4.5 percent in May, the same as that for April, the Department of Statistics said on Thursday.
The inflation was mainly attributable to higher costs of housing, transport and food. The cost of transport rose by 7.5 percent, as a result of higher prices for cars and petroleum. Housing cost rose by 8.1 percent and food prices rose by 2.8 percent as prepared meals and ingredients became more expensive.
The CPI inflation rate was higher than expected. Analysts had expected a moderation in the CPI inflation as monetary tightening and falling global commodity prices helped ease the inflationary pressure to some extent.
On a month-on-month basis, the CPI in May went up 0.6 percent.
The core inflation, monitored by the Monetary Authority of Singapore (MAS), which excludes the costs of accommodation and private road transport, rose by 2.1 percent year on year.
The MAS, the city state's central bank, has allowed the Singapore dollar to appreciate against a basket of foreign currencies to relieve the inflationary pressure. CPI inflation peaked at 5.4 percent in January and has since been falling.