Philippine March inflation at 4.0% y/y, exceeds market forecast

MANILA, April 5 (Reuters) – Philippine annual inflation accelerated in March to 4.0%, the highest in six months, driven by higher energy prices and the increasing cost of some food items, the statistics agency said on Tuesday.

The headline figure came in above the 3.7% median forecast in a Reuters poll and near the upper end of the central bank’s projected range of 3.3% to 4.1% for the month.

(Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales and Enrico Dela Cruz
Editing by Ed Davies)

((enrico.delacruz@tr.com))