MANILA, Oct. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' year-on-year headline inflation quickened to 1.7 percent in September from 1.5 percent in August, due to higher transport and food costs, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Tuesday.
In a news conference, PSA Chief Dennis Mapa said that the uptrend in overall inflation in September was primarily driven by the annual increase in the transport index, which rose to 1 percent from a yearly decline of 0.3 percent in August.
Also contributing to the uptrend in overall inflation was the higher annual increment in the food and non-alcoholic beverages index, at 1 percent in September, compared to 0.9 percent in the previous month.
Mapa said that the September inflation rate brings the national average inflation from January to September 2025 to 1.7 percent. In September 2024, the inflation rate was higher at 1.9 percent.
Core inflation, which excludes selected food and energy items, slowed down to 2.6 percent in September 2025.
In September 2024, the core inflation rate was noted at 2.4 percent.
In a separate statement, the Philippines' Department of Economy, Planning, and Development said the September figures point to manageable price movements despite recent supply-side pressures.
"The slight uptick in inflation underscores the sensitivity of domestic food prices to supply disruptions. We are working closely with various agencies to stabilize supply, keep essential goods affordable, and safeguard household welfare," Secretary Arsenio Balisacan said.
"The Department of Agriculture will also establish food corridors to minimize supply disruptions. These will feature greenhouses, storage, and post-harvest facilities that can strengthen the resilience of our food systems," said Balisacan. ■
