Philippines cbank sees April inflation at 3.5% to 4.3%

MANILA, April 30 (Reuters) - Philippine annual inflation will likely be between 3.5% to 4.3% in April, the central bank said on Tuesday.

Upside pressures on inflation had come from continued price increases for rice, meat, and gasoline, as well as the peso's depreciation, the central bank said.

But these could be offset by lower prices of fish, fruits, vegetables, and electricity rates, it added.

Philippine annual inflation

accelerated

for the second straight month in March, driven by the heavily-weighted rice prices, with the consumer price index rising an annual 3.7%.

The central bank said it will continue monitoring developments affecting the outlook for inflation and growth. The Philippines' statistics agency will release inflation data on May 7. (Reporting by Neil Jerome Morales and Mikhail Flores; Editing by John Mair)