The country’s headline inflation decelerated further to 2.5 percent in March 2020

The headline inflation in the Philippines decelerated further to 2.5 % in March 2020, from 2.6 % in the previous month. Inflation in March a year ago was higher at 3.3 %. The slowdown in inflation in March 2020 was primarily due to transport whose index dropped at an annual rate of 1.8 percent. Slower annual increments in the indices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 18.0 percent; and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at 1.1 percent, also pushed down the inflation during the month.

On the other hand, higher annual increases were noted in the following commodity groups:

• Food and non-alcoholic beverages,   2.6 percent;

• Furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house, 4.2 percent;

• Communication, 0.5 percent; and

• Recreation and culture, 1.6 percent.

The rest of the commodity groups retained their previous month’s annual growth rates

Source: PSA