Inflation slips to 3.9% in March

MANILA, Philippines - Consumer prices in March eased, the National Statistics Office said Friday.

According to the NSO, inflation in March slipped to 3.9 percent, the slowest so far this year. In January inflation was 4.2 percent and 4.1 percent in February.

"The downtrend was due to slower annual hikes posted in the indices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; recreation and culture; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services. Inflation during the same month in 2013 was 3.2 percent," the NSO said.

Excluding volatile food and energy items, the core inflation was slower at 2.8 percent in March from 3.0 percent in February.