Manila - The Philippines' inflation rate inched up to 7.3 per cent in February due to higher food and fuel prices, the government said Thursday.

The February index was up from 7.1 per cent in January and 5.4 per cent in the same month in 2008, according to the National Statistics Office (NSO).

The NSO said the higher inflation was "mainly due to the upward price adjustments in the heavily weighted food items, particularly rice, meat, corn and eggs."

It added that higher prices of cooking gas in many regions, including Manila, and increased prices of charcoal in some regions also contributed to the inflation hike.

"The annual inflation rate for food alone in the Philippines increased to 12.8 per cent in February from 12.7 per cent in January," the NSO said in a statement.

In 2008, the country's average annual inflation rate reached 9.3 per cent, up from 2.8 per cent in 2007, as high oil and food prices battered the economy. (dpa)