Philippine inflation accelerated to a 13-month high in February as prices of rice, fuel and utilities increased, the Philippine Statistics Authority said on Thursday.
The buyer price index rose 2.4% in February from a 12 months earlier, from 2% in January and a couple of.1% a 12 months ago. It was the quickest since 2.9% in January 2025.
The speed fell inside the 2.3%–3.1% forecast of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas and matched the two.4% median estimate in a BusinessWorld poll of 17 analysts.
Inflation remained inside the central bank’s 2%–4% goal for a second straight month, bringing the typical rate for January and February to 2.2%.
National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said faster price increases in food and nonalcoholic beverages, housing and utilities and restaurants and accommodation services drove the headline rate higher last month.
Core inflation, which strips out volatile food and fuel prices, edged as much as 2.9% in February from 2.8% in January and a couple of.4% a 12 months earlier. It was the fastest since 3.1% in June 2024.
Inflation for the underside 30% of income households also accelerated, rising to 2.5% in February from 1.6% in January and 1.5% a 12 months earlier. That marked the quickest pace since November 2024, when it reached 2.9%. — Katherine K. Chan