Rice and meat prices ease in June but vegetables buck the trend

Food inflation slowed to 5.4% as rice, fish and meat posted softer price increases, but vegetable inflation accelerated to 9%, keeping grocery bills uneven for Filipino households.

Some staples are finally seeing slower price increases, but vegetables are heading in the opposite direction.

The Philippine Statistics Authority said rice, fish and meat helped slow food inflation to 5.4% in June from 5.8% in May, contributing to the country’s lower overall inflation rate of 6.4%. Meat prices posted a steeper annual decline, while price increases for rice and fish also moderated.

Vegetables, however, became costlier, with inflation accelerating to 9% from 6.2% in May, making them one of the biggest exceptions to the broader slowdown in food prices.

Outside the grocery basket, transport costs also posted slower price increases, helping ease headline inflation. Core inflation, however, climbed to 4.4% from 4.1%, suggesting that broader price pressures have yet to fully subside even as some everyday essentials become less expensive.

The mixed picture means consumers may begin seeing relief on some grocery items, but not every trip to the market will necessarily cost less.

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