Headline inflation likely hastened again in September amid higher food prices and high base effects, private sector economists said over the weekend.

A DAILY TRIBUNE poll of analysts in late September yielded a median estimate of 5.5 percent for June inflation, within the 5.3 percent to 6.1 percent seen by the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas last Friday.

If realized, the median estimate will be faster than August's 5.3 percent headline inflation rate but slower than the 6.9 percent clip a year ago.

September is also expected to be the 18th consecutive month that inflation surpasses the BSP's 2 to 4 percent target range.

Michael Ricafort, chief economist at Rizal Commercial Banking Corp., expects September's inflation rate to quicken due to the increases in the cost of fuel and food.

"Main catalysts for inflation include higher local palay and rice prices (…) partly due to warmer weather or reduced rainfall in some Asian countries that produce or export rice, resulting in reduced rice exports," Ricafort told DAILY TRIBUNE in a Viber message.