Guimaras inflation cools to 4.6% in July

GUIMARAS — Headline inflation in Guimaras eased to 4.6% in July 2026 from 5.1% in June, according to the latest price data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

The July rate remained significantly higher than the 0.5% recorded a year earlier, while the province’s average inflation from January through July stood at 2.9%.

“Guimaras’ inflation rate in July 2026 remained lower than the inflation rates recorded at the national and Western Visayas levels during the same period,” Provincial Statistics Officer Nelida B. Losare said.

National headline inflation eased to 6.2% in July from 6.4% in June, placing Guimaras’ rate 1.6 percentage points below the national figure.

The slowdown means prices continued to rise from a year earlier, but at a slower pace than in June, with rice and transportation costs remaining key pressures on household budgets.

Food and nonalcoholic beverages recorded 3.6% inflation in July, down from 4.2% in June.

Despite the slowdown, the commodity group remained the largest contributor to the province’s overall inflation, accounting for 38.2%, or 1.76 percentage points, of the 4.6% headline rate.

Within the group, cereals and cereal products posted faster inflation of 10.4% in July from 7.7% in June and contributed 32.2%, or 1.48 percentage points, to overall inflation.

Fish and other seafood retained an inflation rate of 8.3% and contributed 19.6%, or 0.90 percentage point, to overall inflation.

“Among the specific commodities, rice emerged as the top contributor to July inflation. Its inflation rate accelerated from 8.4 percent in June to 12.0 percent in July, contributing 28.4 percent or 1.31 percentage points to the overall inflation,” Losare said.

Transport inflation eased to 22% in July from 24.9% in June.

“The slowdown in transport was mainly due to passenger transport services, which declined to 20.9 percent in July from 27.7 percent in June and contributed 18.6 percent or 0.86 percentage point to the overall inflation,” Losare said.

In contrast, the operation of personal transport equipment posted faster inflation of 31.1% in July from 28.2% in June, contributing 15.4%, or 0.71 percentage point, to overall inflation.

“Among specific commodities under transport, passenger transport by sea and inland waterway posted an inflation rate of 177.2 percent in July, contributing 14.8 percent or 0.68 percentage point to the overall inflation,” Losare said.

Alcoholic beverages and tobacco ranked third among the major contributors to July inflation, accounting for 7.8%, or 0.36 percentage point, of the overall rate.

The group’s inflation increased to 7% from 6.5% in June.

“The group’s contribution was mainly driven by tobacco, which posted an inflation rate of 8.6 percent and contributed 4.8 percent or 0.22 percentage point to the overall inflation. This was followed by spirits and liquors, which recorded a 6.4 percent inflation rate and contributed 3.2 percent or 0.15 percentage point,” Losare said.

Four of the 13 major commodity groups recorded faster inflation in July.

Alcoholic beverages and tobacco increased from 6.5% to 7%; clothing and footwear, from 3.7% to 3.8%; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, from 0.9% to 1%; and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, from 1.4% to 1.5%.

Three commodity groups recorded slower inflation during the month.

Food and nonalcoholic beverages eased from 4.2% to 3.6%; transport declined from 24.9% to 22%; and personal care and miscellaneous goods and services slowed from 5.4% to 5.2%.

Six commodity groups retained their June inflation rates.

Health remained at 5.4%; information and communication, 1.8%; recreation, sport and culture, negative 1.1%; education services, 2%; restaurants and accommodation services, 2.6%; and financial services, 0%.

The three largest specific contributors to Guimaras’ July inflation were rice; passenger transport by sea and inland waterway; and other pelagic fish — live, fresh, chilled or frozen.

Rice posted 12% inflation and contributed 28.4%, or 1.31 percentage points, to overall inflation.

Passenger transport by sea and inland waterway recorded 177.2% inflation and contributed 14.8%, or 0.68 percentage point.

Other pelagic fish posted 9.9% inflation and contributed 13.3%, or 0.61 percentage point.

Guimaras’ consumer price index reached 138.2 in July, indicating that average prices of goods and services were 38.2% higher than their 2018 levels.

The purchasing power of the peso remained at PHP 0.72 from April through July.

This means PHP 1 in 2018 had the purchasing power of only PHP 0.72 in July 2026, down from PHP 0.76 in July 2025.

“The easing of inflation in July reflects slower price increases in food and non-alcoholic beverages, transport, and personal care and miscellaneous goods and services. However, price pressures remained in several commodity groups, particularly those that recorded faster inflation during the month,” Losare said.