Inflation in CV eases to 8.7 percent in July

CEBU, Philippines — The inflation rate in Central Visayas eased to 8.7 percent in July 2026 from 10.1 percent in June, a deceleration driven by slower increases in food and non-alcoholic beverages, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA)-Central Visayas.

Despite the slowdown, the July inflation rate remained significantly higher than the 0.9 percent recorded in the same month last year.

PSA-7 Chief Statistical Specialist Engr. Leopoldo P. Alfanta Jr. presented the inflation report during a press conference held recently.

He said the deceleration was primarily driven by food and non-alcoholic beverages, whose inflation slowed to 10.7 percent in July from 14.1 percent in June.

Transport inflation also eased to 14.7 percent from 16.8 percent, while clothing and footwear declined to 3.6 percent from 4.4 percent.

Slower annual increases were also recorded in furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, at 7.0 percent from 7.2 percent; information and communication, at 0.7 percent from 1.1 percent; recreation, sport and culture, at 3.8 percent from 4.1 percent; education services, at 2.1 percent from 2.7 percent; and personal care and miscellaneous goods and services, at 3.4 percent from 3.8 percent.

Meanwhile, inflation increased for alcoholic beverages and tobacco, rising to 5.2 percent from 5.1 percent, and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, which climbed to 6.6 percent from 5.6 percent.

Health remained at 3.7 percent, while restaurants and accommodation services stayed at 11.1 percent. Financial services also remained unchanged at 0.0 percent.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages were the biggest contributors to the region’s 8.7 percent inflation, accounting for 48.7 percent, or 4.24 percentage points.

Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels contributed 16.6 percent, or 1.44 percentage points, while transport accounted for 14.7 percent, or 1.27 percentage points.

Food inflation likewise slowed to 11.3 percent in July from 14.9 percent in June. However, it remained much higher than the -0.7 percent recorded in July 2025.

Food accounted for 47.7 percent, or 4.15 percentage points, of the overall regional inflation.

The top contributors to food inflation were cereals and cereal products, with a 38.6 percent share, or 4.36 percentage points; fish and other seafood, with 26.6 percent, or 3.01 percentage points; and vegetables, tubers, plantains, bananas and pulses, with 21.6 percent, or 2.44 percentage points. — /IHM (FREEMAN)