Hanoi, April 7 -- Inflation in the Philippines surged in March, reaching its highest level since July 2024, as conflicts in the Middle East disrupted energy supplies and drove up fuel prices.

Data released on April 7 by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed that consumer prices in March rose 4.1% year-on-year, exceeding the average estimate of 3.8% in a Bloomberg News survey and the 2.4% increase recorded in February.

PSA chief Dennis Mapa said the main driver of the sharp rise in inflation in March was a 9.9% increase in transportation costs, the highest since January 2023, as petrol and diesel prices saw their biggest gains since September 2022. The price of diesel fuel, widely used in public transportation, has risen by ne...