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Inflation climbed/eased to X percent in 2026, the state statistics bureau said Friday.

Members and supporters of Akbayan Partylist head to Kamuning Market in Quezon City on March 6, 2025 to give flowers to vendors and marketgoers in celebration of Women's Month. They also set up a frame that reads "Woman of the Year" for people who wish to take photos.  Maria Tan, ABS-CBN news

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palengke run-akbayan partylist

Jekki Pascual

ABS-CBN News

<div><span class="fr-img-caption fr-fic fr-dib" style="width:960px;display:block" width="960"><span class="fr-img-wrap"><img src="https://od2-image-api.abs-cbn.com/prod/editorImage/17806218299572026060502060_33bad746c2670777d832f5fe36d1960bb5da5f635d493456c0a6db6857a6652d.jpg" style="width:960px" class="fr-fic fr-dib" width="960"/><span class="fr-inner" style="text-align:left">Members and supporters of Akbayan Partylist head to Kamuning Market in Quezon City on March 6, 2025 to give flowers to vendors and marketgoers in celebration of Women&#x27;s Month. <em>Maria Tan, ABS-CBN News</em></span></span></span></div><p>MANILA — The Philippines inflation rate slightly eased to 6.8 percent in May from 7.2 percent in April. However, this is still one of the highest inflation rates in recent years.</p><div> </div><p>The Philippine Statistics Authority said the main drivers for the downward trend of the headline inflation were the slower annual increase of inflation in the transport segment, food, and the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels segment. </p><div> </div><p>“Major contributors dito ay yung pagbaba ng presyo ng diesel noong Mayo, ang ating inflation rate diyan ay nasa 58.5 percent. Noong Abril kasi triple digit itong inflation rate year-on-year, 122.7 percent,” said National Statistician and Civil Registrar General Claire Dennis Mapa.</p><div> </div><p>The 6.8 percent inflation is lower than the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas forecast of 7.1 to 7.9 percent for May. The BSP earlier said there were upside price pressures affecting rice, vegetables, and meat, coupled with the depreciation of the peso.</p><div> </div><p>Mapa said prices were still elevated due to the Middle East conflict which affected fuel prices, but there was a slight reduction overall.</p><div> </div><div><a href="https://www.abs-cbn.com/news/nation/2026/6/5/p4-50-hike-in-diesel-possible-next-week-1022">P4.50 hike in diesel possible next week</a></div><div> </div><p>“May mga items na bumaba month-on-month, may mga items tayo na tumaas. But the overall inflation for this basket of goods ay bumaba siya,” he added.</p><div> </div><p>The PSA however continues to monitor prices especially with the entry of the typhoon season and the looming El Niño. Mapa said they are also checking rice since it has the biggest weight in the food basket.</p><div> </div><p>“Tumaas ang presyo ng bigas. So alam namin natin malaki yung weight ng rice doon sa basket nation particularly doon sa bottom 30 percent income households.’ he said.</p><div> </div><p>He also said that externals risks—like the war in the Middle East—may keep transport and fuel costs upward.</p><div> </div><p>Inflation rate for the bottom 30 percent income households is higher at 8.4 percent due to high prices of rice and gasoline.</p><div> </div><p>Core inflation, which factors out food, oil, and other volatile commodities, was at 4.1 percent in May.</p><div> </div><p>Overall, the average inflation rate for the year is 4.5 percent, which is higher than the government target of 2 to 4 percent.</p><div> </div><p>The Department of Economy, Planning and Development (DEPDev) said the slower inflation in May is “encouraging,” but noted that price pressures remain elevated.</p><div> </div><p>DEPDev said the government will continue to monitor inflation and work to strengthen domestic food production, improve logistics and market efficiency, and ensure that vulnerable sectors receive timely support.</p><div><br/></div><div><br/></div><div><span class="fr-video fr-deletable fr-fvc fr-dvb fr-draggable" contenteditable="false" draggable="true"><iframe width="640" height="360" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/57lN7BtROhc?&amp;wmode=opaque&amp;rel=0" frameBorder="0" allowfullscreen="" class="fr-draggable"></iframe></span><br/></div>

<p>Inflation eased to 6.8 percent in May 2026, the state statistics bureau said Friday.</p>

Inflation eased to 6.8 percent in May 2026, the state statistics bureau said Friday.

May inflation eases to 6.8 pct, lower than BSP forecast

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May inflation eases to 6.8 pct, lower than BSP forecast

Jekki Pascual,

ABS-CBN News

Published June 05, 2026 09:07 AM PHT

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Updated June 05, 2026 05:17 PM PHT

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inflation

philippine statistics authority

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middle east conflict

fuel price hikes

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