bangkok feb 6 reuters  thailands headline consumer price index cpi rose 502 in january from a year earlier the slowest pace in nine months and below analyst forecasts commerce ministry data showed on monday the reading compared with a forecast for a 512 rise in january in a reuters poll and followed decembers 589 increase the core cpi index was up 304 in january from a year ago versus a forecast rise of 310 headline inflation is likely to be below 5 in february helped by easing energy and food prices senior commerce ministry official wichanun niwatjinda told a news conference still the pace remains well above the central banks target range of 1 to 3 suggesting the central bank will raise its key interest rate further after hiking it at four consecutive meetings to try to bring prices back within target the central bank said previously that a continuing gradual rate rise is an appropriate course for a policy consistent with the growth and inflation outlook it will next review policy on march 29 the commerce ministry is sticking by its forecast for headline inflation at 2 to 3 this year wichanun said in 2022 headline cpi increased 608 a 24year high while the core cpi index rose 251 reporting by satawasin staporncharnchai writing by orathai sriring editing by ed davies