Philippine inflation seen accelerating to around 5%

Expensive food due to bad weather

MANILA: Expensive food due to bad weather-induced supply constraints plus high oil prices likely pushed headline inflation to at least 5% in September, the majority of economists polled by the Inquirer said.

Out of 17 economists, 13 projected the rate of increase in prices of basic commodities to hit between 5% and 5.2% – a level unseen since skyrocketing rice prices jacked up the inflation rate in 2018.