Butuan city: Slower price increases in food and transport drove the inflation rate in the Caraga Region down to 8.6 percent in July from 8.9 percent in June, the Philippine Statistics Authority in the Caraga Region (PSA-13) bared on Monday. Presa Villarina, supervising statistical specialist of PSA-13, noted that last month's inflation is also higher compared with the 0.2 percent recorded in the same month in 2025.

According to Philippines News Agency, "The average inflation in the region from January to July 2026 is recorded at 7.1 percent," Villarina said. The two main sources of the deceleration in July 2026 inflation were Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, whose inflation rate eased to 9.0 percent from 9.9 percent in June, and Transport, which declined to 16.5 percent from 18.8 percent over the same period.

In Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, the lower inflation was caused by the slower increase in the prices of fish and other seafood, vegetables and tubers, and cereal products. The slower increase in the prices of fuels and lubricants and passenger transport by road are the main sources of the slower inflation in transport in the region in July.

In the provinces, the PSA-13 report indicated an 11.9 percent inflation in Agusan del Norte from 13.8 percent in June; 7.4 percent from 7.0 percent in Agusan del Sur; 7.7 percent from 7.8 percent in Surigao del Norte; 9.4 percent from 9.8 percent in Surigao del Sur; and 8.7 percent from 9.6 percent in Dinagat Islands. In July, Butuan City maintained its inflation rate at 8.1 percent from the previous month.