Philippine Inflation Hits One-Year High, May Curb Further Easing

The Philippines’ inflation rate rose to the fastest pace in over a year in February, putting the Southeast Asian economy in a delicate position ahead of the expected surge in prices of goods in the wake of the war in Iran.

Consumer prices increased 2.4% last month from a year ago, the Philippine Statistics Authority said on Thursday. That matched the median estimate in a Bloomberg News survey and compares with the 2% recorded in January.