- HEADLINE INFLATION likely quickened in February amid higher prices of key commodities like food, electricity and fuel, analysts said.
- A BusinessWorld poll of 16 analysts yielded a median estimate of 3% for the consumer price index (CPI) in February. This is within the 2.8-3.6% forecast of the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) for the month. If realized, February inflation would be slightly faster than the 2.8% print in January but much slower than 8.6% in the same month a year ago. It would also mark the first time that inflation picked up on a month-on-month basis since September 2023.
- February would also mark the third straight month that inflation was within the BSP’s 2-4% target range.
- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) is set to release February inflation data on Tuesday (March 5).
https://www.bworldonline.com/top-stories/2024/03/04/579134/inflation-uptick-seen-in-feb-poll/