Filipinos are paying more to get around as transport prices climb faster in August

Transport inflation rose to 13.5% in August, driven by fuel price hikes and rising commute costs. 

Filipinos are paying more to get around, with transport prices jumping 13.5% in August from a year earlier.

The Philippine Statistics Authority said transport inflation accelerated from 11.9% in July, making it the fastest-rising major spending category in the latest inflation report.

The increase came as motorists also faced a fresh round of fuel-price hikes in August, adding to the cost of transportation during the month. The latest PSA report, however, does not identify fuel prices as the specific cause of the 13.5% transport inflation.

Transport was also one of the biggest contributors to the country’s 6.1% headline inflation, accounting for 20.1% of the overall increase, or 1.2 percentage points.

The increase was even steeper outside Metro Manila, where transport inflation climbed to 14.3% from 12.6% in July. In the National Capital Region, transport inflation rose to 10% from 8.6%.

Higher transportation costs affect more than daily commutes. They can also make it more expensive for businesses to move food, supplies and other goods, adding to operating costs and potentially affecting the prices consumers pay.

Overall inflation eased slightly in August to 6.1%, but transportation continued to become more expensive, making it one of the biggest sources of price pressure for Filipino households and businesses.

READ: