February 2022 inflation rate stays at 3 percent — PSA

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MANILA, Philippines — The country’s headline inflation stayed at three percent in February, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Friday.

“The headline inflation in the Philippines remained at 3.0 percent in February 2022 as it recorded the same annual growth rate as in January 2022,” PSA said in a report.

Inflation in February 2021 was at 4.2 percent.

The PSA said it observed “faster annual increases” in the indices of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at 4.8 percent; transport at 8.8 percent; and recreation, sport, and culture at 1.6 percent.

Meanwhile, “slowdowns” were observed in the indices of the following commodity groups:

– Food and non-alcoholic beverages, 1.2 percent
– Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 4.7 percent
– Clothing and footwear, 1.9 percent
– Furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 2.3 percent
– Health, 2.7 percent
– Information and communication, 0.6 percent
– Restaurants and accommodation services, 2.9 percent.

The rest of commodity groups retained their previous month’s inflation rates, according to PSA.

PSA said inflation for food decelerated to 1.1 percent in February 2022, from 1.6 percent in the previous month.

In February 2021, food inflation was observed at 6.8 percent.

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