MANILA, Philippines — Philippine inflation swelled to a 13-month high of 2.4 percent in February, as housing, utilities, and food costs continued to exert upward pressure, the Philippine Statistics Authority reported on Thursday.
The latest print was faster than the 2 percent annual print in January and marked the third straight month of acceleration. It was the highest reading since the 2.9 percent recorded in January 2025.
Even so, inflation remained within the central bank’s projected 2.3 percent to 3.1 percent range and came in below the 2.6 percent median estimate of 14 economists polled by the Inquirer.
The PSA said housing, water, electricity, and gas posted a 3.5 percent inflation rate in February, contributing the most to the overall print. Food and non-alcoholic beverages followed at 1.8 percent, up from 1.1 percent in January.
In addition, faster annual increases were observed in the indices of the following commodity groups in February:
-
- Clothing and footwear, 2.4 percent from 2.3 percent
- Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 2.9 percent from 2.3 percent
- Health, 3.2 percent from 3.0 percent
- Recreation, sport and culture, 4.3 percent from 2.2 percent
- Restaurants and accommodation services; 4.4 percent from 4 percent; and
- Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 2.8 percent from 2.6 percent.
