East Asian Economic News 　　*Japan's foreign exchange reserve was placed at US$215.9 billion by the end of last December, which has been the largest of the world for 62 months in succession. 　　*The consumer price index of Thailand rose 8.1 percent in 1998, which indicated that the Thai government has successfully controlled its inflation rate. 　　*The inflation rate of the Philippines in 1998 reached 9.7 percent over an inflation rate of 5.1 percent in 1997 due to a dual attack of financial crisis and natural disaster, according to a report of Philippino Statistics Bureau. 　　 　　 　　 Economicnews 1999-01-07 Page7