The annual headline consumer price index rose for a third straight month in September, government data showed on Monday, beating forecasts but still below the central bank's target, giving it room to keep monetary policy loose to aid growth.
The index increased 0.86% in September from a year earlier, after a 0.32% rise in August. A Reuters poll projected a rise of 0.45% in September.
The Bank of Thailand (BOT) has forecast 2017 headline inflation of 0.6%, below its 1-4% target range.
The BOT left its policy interest rate unchanged at 1.50% last week, shrugging off calls from the government and businesses for a cut to contain the baht's strength. The rate has been at that level since April 2015. It next reviews monetary policy on Nov 8, and most analysts expect no change for the rest of 2017.
The core CPI index, which excludes raw food and energy prices, rose 0.53% in September year-on-year, slightly higher than the poll's median of a 0.50% increase.
In the January-September period, headline CPI rose 0.59% from a year earlier and the core index increased 0.54%. Inflation in Thailand has also been contained by state price controls, subsidies and soft domestic demand.