Mexico's headline inflation accelerates in August, core pressures ease

Sept 9 (Reuters) - Mexico's annual inflation rate accelerated for the first time ‌in five months in August, official ‌data showed on Wednesday, backing up a cautious ​approach in the country's monetary policy.

Consumer prices in Latin America's second-largest economy rose 3.26% in the year through August, accelerating from ‌a 3.12% ⁠increase in July and but landing slightly below economists' forecasts in ⁠a Reuters poll that expected a 3.3% increase.

In June alone, consumer prices increased ​0.20%, following ​a 0.03% increase ​the prior month, ‌according to non-seasonally adjusted figures, and compared with economists' expectations of a 0.25% rise.

The closely watched core index, which strips out some volatile food and energy prices, ‌rose 0.16% during the ​month, below a 0.20% ​market forecasts ​and down slightly from the ‌0.23% recorded the previous ​month.

The annual ​core rate stood at 3.88%, also slowing from the 3.95% registered in July ​and below ‌expectations of a 3.93% increase.

(Reporting by ​Aida Pelaez-Fernandez and Ricardo Figueroa; ​Editing by Chizu Nomiyama )