Inflation has declined significantly on the
back of a steep decline in oil prices and softer
housing and car permit prices, while a tight labor
market has not so far translated into inflation
pressures. Headline inflation fell to -0.3 percent (y/y)
in the first quarter of 2015, down from an average of
1 percent in 2014, and 2.4 percent in 2013. Core
inflation also eased, to 1.1 percent (y/y) in the first
quarter of 2015 (Figure 1). The labor market has
remained strong and unemployment has declined
below 2 percent. A remarkable increase in the hiring
of resident workers has pushed the labor force
participation ratio to a new record high. Pass-through
of rising unit labor costs partly driven by wage
increases has been smaller than expected amid weak
demand and uncertain business outlook, contributing
to subdued inflation.