September 22, 2006	Friday	Sha'aban 28, 1427

MEXICO CITY, Sept 21: Mexican consumer prices climbed sharply in the first half of September and the central bank will hold interest rates steady at its monthly policy meeting on Friday, a Reuters poll showed.

The poll of 22 analysts on Thursday showed headline inflation was expected at 0.37pc for the first half of the month and that core inflation, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, was probably 0.13 per cent.