Inflation Hits 12-Month High at 2.4% — Food Prices Are the Culprit

Bad news for Pinoy wallets: inflation accelerated to 2.4% in February 2026, hitting its fastest pace in 12 months, according to data from the Philippine Statistics Authority released Thursday.

The main driver? Food and non-alcoholic beverages, which continue to eat into household budgets. The February figure is noticeably higher than the 2.0% recorded in January and even exceeds the 2.1% posted in February last year.

For everyday Filipinos, this means the cost of putting food on the table is climbing faster. Prices sa palengke are creeping up, and it's being felt across communities nationwide.

The timing couldn't be worse. With fuel prices expected to surge in the coming weeks due to the US-Iran conflict disrupting global oil markets, analysts warn that inflation could climb even higher in the months ahead as transportation and logistics costs rise.

While the 2.4% figure remains within the government's target range, the upward trend is something economic managers will need to watch closely — especially with the Middle East situation showing no signs of cooling down anytime soon.

Source: GMA News