LOWER transport and food prices led Philippine inflation to ease for a second straight month in June, although continued pass-through effects continued to drive core inflation faster, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.
Based on PSA data released on Tuesday, headline inflation slowed to six.4% in June from 6.8% in May, but was still much faster than the 1.4% pace logged a yr ago.
The June inflation print got here in below the 6.6% median forecast in a BusinessWorld poll of 18 analysts.
National Statistician Claire Dennis S. Mapa said inflation in transport cooled to 12.8% in June from 16.2% in May, while food and nonalcoholic beverages eased to five.2% from 5.7%.
“Inflation slowed in June as easing oil price pressures and continued government measures to strengthen food supply helped temper price increases,” the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) said in a separate statement, likewise noting easing tensions within the Middle East.
As of the primary half of the yr, inflation averaged 4.8%, still above the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas’ (BSP) 4% ceiling.
Meanwhile, core inflation, which discounts volatile fuel and food prices, quickened to 4.4% from 4.1% in May and a couple of.2% last yr.
This matched the December 2023 reading and was the fastest pace seen because the 4.7% in November 2023.
Mr. Mapa noted that faster price increases in utilities, restaurants and accommodation services and education services, amongst others pushed the core print to an over two-year high.
PSA data also showed inflation within the National Capital Region (NCR) was slower at 4.9% in June from 5% in May, but picked up from 2.6% a yr ago.
Outside NCR, it eased to six.7% from 7.1% the previous month, but was faster than the 1.1% last yr.
For the underside 30% of income households, inflation also cooled to eight% in June from 8.4% in May. Nevertheless, this was significantly faster than the -0.4% recorded in June 2025. — Katherine K. Chan