Uninterrupted supply chain necessary to keep prices downMANILA, Philippines — Inflation may ease further in the coming months as long as the supply chain of basic commodities remains uninterrupted amid the enhanced community quarantine , according to Finance Undersecretary Gil Beltran. Like core inflation, the headline inflation rate in April moderated to 2.2 percent from 2.5 percent in March and three percent in April 2019. “This further easing in general prices is largely due to non-food items, which more than offset the acceleration in food prices,” Beltran said. “Since November 2018, the average rice prices has been falling (such that month-on-month rice price change was negative) until March before registering positive month-on-month price change in April,” Beltran noted. However, he said the stability of prices is threatened by the recent spike in the global prices of rice because of supply disruptions amid the pandemic.

Source: Philippine Star May 10, 2020 16:30 UTC