Ecuador's 2012 inflation rate was 4.16 pct

Reuters Middle East – 11 hours ago

QUITO, Jan 5 (Reuters) - Ecuador's consumer prices rose 4.16

percent last year, the government of the South American OPEC
nation said on Saturday, below its forecast of 5.14 percent.

That was lower than the 5.41 percent recorded in 2011, but
above the 3.33 percent seen in 2010. The success at keeping
price increases in check was a big part of the country's robust
economic performance last year.

Ecuador's economy is likely to have expanded by about 5
percent in 2012, President Rafael Correa said last month. The
growth has been supported by high oil revenues that let him
boost state spending on infrastructure and welfare programs.
The socialist leader has said the inflation rate in 2013
should also be below 5 percent. In December 2012 consumer prices
dipped 0.19 percent, the INEC statistics agency said, compared
with a 0.40 percent rise during December 2011.