Good news: inflation in Laguna province has slowed down, according to reports from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Bad news: Laguna province still ranks as having the highest inflation rate in the Calabarzon region.
In a report issued by PSA 4-A Regional Director Charito Armonia, she reported that the province's inflation rate was reported at 7.1 percent last July.
This was significantly lower than the 8 percent reported in June, but still the highest in the region.
Rizal province, on the other hand, posted 6.6-percent inflation, and Cavite 4.9 percent, all lower than their June 2026 rates.
Meanwhile, Quezon registered 5.9 percent, Lucena City 4.3 percent and Batangas 4.2 percent, each recording faster increases in the prices of key goods and services.
Overall, the Calabarzon Region posted an inflation rate of 5.8 percent in July 2026, down from 6.3 percent in the previous month.
However, Armonia noted that it was still higher than July 2025’s 1.8 percent.
The average year‑to‑date inflation rate from January to July 2026 stood at 5.0 percent.
The PSA official added that the slower month‑on‑month increase in overall prices was attributed to a decline in education services, which registered a -1.3 percent inflation rate.
Slower price increases in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (9.0 percent) and transport (9.8 percent) also contributed to the moderation.
Food inflation
Among food groups in the region, faster price increases in July this year were recorded for rice (13.7 percent); fish and other seafood (7.5 percent); and flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta and other cereals (6.2 percent).
Similarly, faster price increases were observed in fruits and nuts (5.1 percent); corn (4.7 percent); ready-to-eat food and other food products (4.6 percent); and vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses (1.9 percent).
Conversely, the following food groups showed slower price increases than in June 2026, including oils and fats (6.7 percent); sugar, confectionery and desserts (0.7 percent); and milk, other dairy products, and eggs (0.1 percent).
“Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals recorded a faster price decline at -6.5 percent,” Armonia noted.
(With report from PNA)
#WeTakeAStand #OpinYon #OpinYonNews