mexico city  mexicos inflation eased in the first half of november helped by slowing energy and fresh food costs while core goods and services inflation reached a new 22year high the consumer price index rose 056 in the first two weeks of the month bringing the 12month inflation rate down to 814 from 841 at the end of october the national statistics institute said thursday core cpi which excludes energy and agricultural products but includes processed food rose 034 with the annual rate moving from 842 at the end of october to 866 its highest level since august 2000 with core inflation continuing to accelerate the bank of mexico is expected to raise interest rates again at its december meeting all but one of the 30 analysts polled this week by citigroup unit citibanamex predicted the central bank will increase the overnight interestrate target to 105 on dec 15 from the current 10 slowing the pace of tightening after four consecutive threequarter point increases the central bank doesnt expect inflation to return to its 3 target until the third quarter of 2024 a drop in fresh produce prices in the first half of november contributed to the decline in the overall inflation rate while annual energy inflation slowed to 27 from 31 in october