Inflation on the hop in Year of Rabbit.(1999 disinflation)(Statistical Data Included)

In the Chinese Year of the Rabbit, inflation across Asia is on the run.

March inflation data out from several Asian countries, the first since the Lunar New Year began on February 16, shows that far from expanding rapidly, prices are increasingly subdued.

"We are definitely in a disinflationary environment and that's likely to be sustained for some time," said Mr Bernhard Eschweiler, vice-president of economic research at JP Morgan in Singapore. "It is yet too early to say that we have moved from there (disinflation) to a deflationary environment," Mr Eschwe