Mexico's 12-month inflation rate accelerated in early August, data from national statistics agency INEGI showed on Monday, while core inflation remained persistent. Annual inflation in Latin America's second-largest economy reached 3.26% in the first half of August, INEGI said, up from 3.10% a month earlier, though still within the Bank of Mexico's target range of 3%, plus or minus one percentage point. On a monthly basis, consumer prices rose 0.10% in the period, INEGI said. The closely watched core price index, which strips out some volatile food and energy prices, rose 3.93% in the 12 months through early August, and climbed 0.08% compared with the first half of July.