Inflation watch 2021

The Philippine Statistics Authority says the inflation slowed down to 4.2% year-on-year in November from 4.6% print in October.

The PSA attributes the milder price growth to slower price hikes in vegetables, fish and meat. Year-to-date, inflation averaged 4.5%, settling above the state’s 2-4% annual target. — Ian Nicolas Cigaral

Headline inflation in September slows down to 4.8%, the Philippine Statistics Authority says.

The average inflation from January to September is at 4.5%.

"The main reason for the slowdown in the inflation rate in September 2021 was the slower movement of the transport price with 5.2% inflation and 55.8% share in the decline in overall inflation in the country," PSA says.

Inflation quickens to 4.9% in August, the highest since January 2019.

Prices of vegetables and fish were partly responsible for the uptick.

Inflation in August settled at the upper band of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas' forecast range of 4.1% to 4.9%. — Ramon Royandoyan

Inflation stays at 4.5% in April from March, an unusual disruption from rising trend that is unlikely to be sustained as tighter supplies of protein continued to stoke prices.

Average inflation for the first 4 months also at 4.5%, running above the central bank's 2-4% target for the year. 

Pork inflation remains the primary driver of inflation, with demand still outstripping tighter supplies due to African swine fever. On top of that, fuel costs also increase, with transport fares following suit.

Meanwhile, inflation for the 30% poorest households decelerates to 4.9% on-year in April from 5.2% in March. — Prinz Magtulis

Inflation unexpectedly eases to 4.5% in March 2021 from 4.7% in February due to slower increases in prices of vegetables, fish and fruits. —  Prinz Magtulis

Headline inflation climbs to 4.7% in February, the highest inflation recorded since January 2019, the Philippine Statistics Authority says.

"The main reason for the rise in inflation in the month of February 2021 is the faster increase in the price of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages," PSA says.

Ang headline inflation o ang pagtaas ng presyo ng mga produkto at serbisyo sa bansa ay umakyat sa antas na 4.7 percent nitong buwan ng Pebrero 2021. Ito ang pinakamataas na inflation na naitala simula noong Enero 2019. #PHCPI #Inflation @mapa_dennis

— PSAgovPH (@PSAgovph) March 5, 2021

The Philippine Statistics Authority reports that for all of 2020, inflation averaged 2.6% year-on-year largely as a result of slower price upticks during lockdowns in the early months.

That average was in the low end of Bangko Sentral's 2-4% target for the year. — Philstar.com/Prinz Magtulis

Get the latest news on inflation and consumer prices in the Philippines here. Main photo by The STAR/Boy Santos.