AVERAGE retail prices of rice and beef rose in mid-March, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.
The national average retail price of regular milled rice over March 15 to 17 was P48.69 per kilogram (kg), up from P47.47/kg in March 1 to 5 and P46.01/kg in Feb. 15 to 17.
Fresh beef with bones, meanwhile, sold at an average of P376.34/kg nationwide, higher than the P374.64 in early March and the P375/kg in mid-February.
The PSA also reported that the nationwide average retail price of galunggong was P248.64/kg in mid-March, higher than the P242.67/kg earlier in the month and mid-February's P246.38/kg.
The average retail price of carrots was P147.55/kg, up from P130.60/kg during the first few days of March and P122.00/kg mid-February.
Red onions, on the other hand, were sold at a lower price of P160.96/kg nationwide compared to P167.39/kg in early March and P177.33/kg in mid-February.
The price of a kilo of carabao mangoes was also lower at P176.24 from P183.35/kg over March 1 to 5 and P184.87/kg in mid-February.
Cooking oil, lastly, averaged P195.16 per liter, rising from P194.54 and P193.75 in the prior periods.