MANILA, March 5 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' year-on-year headline inflation accelerated to 2.4 percent in February from 2 percent in January, driven mainly by a faster annual increase in food prices, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Thursday.

"The uptrend in the overall inflation in February 2026 was primarily influenced by the faster annual increment in the index of the heavily weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages at 1.8 percent during the month from 1.1 percent in January 2026," PSA Chief Claire Dennis Mapa said at a press briefing.

PSA data showed that food inflation at the national level recorded a faster annual increase of 1.6 percent in February 2026 from 0.7 percent in the previous month. In February 2025, food inflation was higher at 2.6 percent.

Meanwhile, core inflation, which excludes selected food and energy items, rose to 2.9 percent in February 2026 from 2.8 percent in January, and was higher than the 2.4 percent recorded in February 2025.

"Overall price conditions remain stable. However, we are mindful of recent geopolitical developments, which we are closely monitoring, along with domestic supply conditions of key commodities," said Department of Economy, Planning, and Development Secretary Arsenio Balisacan. ■