Inflation slowed to 2.1 percent in February from 2.9 percent in January this year, mainly due to milder increases in food and non-alcoholic beverage prices, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.
The comparative February year-earlier inflation rate stood higher at 3.4 percent.
The PSA said slower price increments in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, as well as transport also contributed to the overall price slowdown.
The top three commodity groups that contributed to the overall rise in the consumer price-based inflation for February, although at a slower pace, were food and non-alcoholic beverages, accounting for 47 percent; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with 16.4 percent; and restaurants and accommodation services with 12.9 percent.
The deceleration in food inflation was primarily brought about by slower increases in the cost of vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 7.1 percent, from 21.1 percent in January.
The PSA noted, however, higher annual growth rates during the month in the indices for meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals; milk, other dairy products and eggs; oils and fats; and fruits and nuts.
