Philippine's consumer price inflation accelerated at a faster-than-expected pace in September to the highest level in one-and-a-half years, figures from the Philippine Statistics Authority showed Wednesday.
The consumer price index rose 2.3 percent year-over-year in September, following a 1.8 percent climb in the previous month. That was above the 2.1 percent increase expected by economists.
The latest rate of inflation was the strongest since March 2015, when prices had risen 2.4 percent.
Excluding selected food and energy items, core inflation also quickened to 2.3 percent in September from 2.0 percent a month ago.
Prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages grew 3.1 percent annually in September and those of clothing and footwear went up by 2.7 percent.
On a monthly basis, consumer prices edged up 0.2 percent from August, when it increased by 0.1 percent.
Separately, the statistical office announced that producer prices declined at faster pace of 4.5 percent yearly in August, after a 4.1 percent fall in July.
Month-on-month, producer prices slid 0.4 percent in August, slower than prior month's 0.5 percent decrease.
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