Inflation for poorest went up to 4.8%

State-run National Statistics Office (NSO)—under the consolidated statistical body Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)—said on Tuesday that the inflation for the poorest households in the country or the bottom 30 percent of the population increased to 4.8 percent for the fourth quarter of 2013.

The statistical body said that this was an “uptrend” on the consumer price index (CPI)—main indicator for inflation—from the 3.5 percent in third quarter and 3 percent recorded in fourth quarter 2012 caused by “higher mark-ups on heavily weighted food, beverages and tobacco [FBT] and in fuel, light and water [FLW] index.”