ASEAN inflation: Vietnam and Philippines hit hardest by Iran war

March data show rising fuel costs; analyst warns of 'second wave' in food prices

A motorist fills up in Bangkok on April 2: Transportation costs are rising in Southeast Asia as the conflict in the Middle East pushes up fuel prices. (Photo by Ken Kobayashi)

SINGAPORE -- Consumer inflation is accelerating across Southeast Asia, sparked by disruptions to oil supplies caused by the U.S.-Iran war, with countries that rely heavily on Middle East oil imports such as Vietnam and the Philippines seeing their sharpest price rises in years in March.