BUTUAN CITY – The inflation rate in the Caraga Region slowed to 9.4 percent in May 2026 from 10.2 percent in April, driven mainly by lower fuel prices, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-13) reported Thursday.
The May inflation rate remains significantly higher than the 0.6 percent recorded in May 2025. From January to May 2026, the average inflation rate in the region stood at 6.4 percent, according to officer-in-charge Regional Director Guillermo Lipio Jr.
The deceleration was attributed to the transport commodity group, which posted 22.9 percent in May compared to 27.6 percent in April. Lower fuel prices drove the slowdown, with diesel inflation declining to 64.8 percent from 126.7 percent in April, and gasoline falling to 57.4 percent from 66.3 percent.
“The food and non-alcoholic commodity group also contributed to the deceleration of inflation last month, with 9.7 percent compared to 10.3 percent in April,” Lipio said.
The slowdown in food inflation was driven by lower prices for other pelagic fish (14.8 percent from 17.4 percent) and poultry meat, which recorded negative inflation at -0.3 percent from 1.4 percent.
Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels also contributed to the slowdown, easing to 7.5 percent from 8.5 percent in April.
Among provinces, Agusan del Norte posted the highest inflation at 12.6 percent (up from 11.6 percent), while Surigao del Norte logged the lowest at 7.9 percent (down from 8.8 percent). Other provinces recorded: Agusan del Sur at 8.0 percent (from 8.5 percent), Surigao del Sur at 10.3 percent (from 12.3 percent), and Dinagat Islands at 11.3 percent (from 12.2 percent). Inflation in Butuan City also slowed to 9.6 percent from 10.4 percent. (PNA)