Mexico’s 12-month inflation rate rose to 3.42% in the first half of September from 3.26% a month earlier, according to national statistics agency INEGI. The result exceeded the 3.37% median forecast in a Reuters poll. Core inflation, which excludes some volatile food and energy prices, continued to slow, reaching 3.79% over the 12 months through early September, down from 3.93% in the first half of August and slightly below economists’ 3.81% expectation. Annual core inflation remained within the Bank of Mexico’s target range of 3%, plus or minus one percentage point. On a monthly basis, consumer prices increased 0.33% during the first half of September, while the core price index rose 0.17%.