Peru inflation up 0.47 percent in June

LIMA, July 1 (Reuters) - Peruvian consumer prices rose 0.47 percent in June, driven by higher costs for transportation and communications services, the government said on Sunday.

The figure is substantially higher than the -0.13 percent recorded a year ago, but less than the 0.49 percent climb in May.

"The rise in prices of transport and communications services is explained mainly because of the increase on fuels and transport prices," the National Statistics Institute said in a statement.

The result was above the forecasts of analysts consulted by Reuters. They had predicted a median rise of 0.28 percent, with estimates ranging from 0.20 percent to 0.40 percent.

The central bank has an official target of 1 percent to 3 percent for full-year 2007 inflation.

Last year, inflation was a modest 1.14 percent, outside the bank's target of between 1.5 and 3.5 percent.

Peru's economy has experienced solid growth in the past few years. In 2006 the economy expanded 8.03 percent, the highest growth rate in 11 years, boosted largely by increasing mineral exports.