Inflation in the country accelerated to another three-year high of 7.2 percent in September, up from 6.1 percent in August, amid higher food and housing prices, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Tuesday.
The latest print matched the rate recorded in April and snapped four consecutive months of easing.
It also blew past the 6.8-percent median estimate of 19 economists polled by the Inquirer last week but remained within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) forecast range of 6.4 percent to 7.4 percent.
Food inflation jumped to 6.7 percent from 4.6 percent in the previous month, mainly as vegetable costs rose to 10.7 percent from a 3.4-percent disinflation in August.
Meanwhile, inflation in housing and utilities rose to 8.4 percent from 7.9 percent on higher rent, electricity and cooking gas prices.
Transport prices also continued to increase, with inflation in the basket accelerating to 14.6 percent from 13.5 percent.