MANILA, April 7 (Xinhua) -- The Philippines' year-on-year overall inflation increased to 4.1 percent in March from 2.4 percent in February, driven mainly by a faster annual increase in food and non-food commodities and transport, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said on Tuesday.

The uptrend in the overall inflation in March was primarily influenced by the annual increment of the transport index at 9.9 percent during the month, from an annual decrease of 0.3 percent in February, PSA Chief Claire Dennis Mapa said at a press conference.

Mapa added that the uptick in the food and non-alcoholic beverages index, with a faster annual increase of 3 percent in March from 1.8 percent in the previous month, also contributed to the overall March inflation rate.

Meanwhile, core inflation -- which excludes selected food and energy items -- rose to 3.2 percent in March from 2.9 percent in February, and was higher than the 2.2 percent recorded in March 2025.

The March inflation rate brings the average inflation in the first quarter to 2.8 percent. In March 2025, the inflation rate was recorded at 1.8 percent. ■