Central Visayas recorded the country's highest inflation rate for the 11th straight month in June 2026, though the figure eased to 10 percent from 10.8 percent in May.
The Philippine Statistics Authority reported that the region's headline inflation rate declined across several categories. Transportation inflation fell sharply from 21.9 percent in May to 16.8 percent in June, while food and non-alcoholic beverages eased from 15.2 percent to 14.2 percent. Inflation for vegetables, tubers, and plantains dropped from 54 percent to 47.6 percent but remained the top contributor to food price pressures.
Nationwide, headline inflation slowed to 6.4 percent in June from 6.8 percent in May. The January-to-June 2026 average stood at 4.8 percent, according to National Statistician Dennis Mapa. Lower transport costs, linked to easing tensions in the Middle East, drove much of the slowdown.
State economists at the Department of Economy, Planning, and Development in Central Visayas expect the region's inflation to stay elevated through the rest of 2026.