MALAYBALAY CITY — Bukidnon’s inflation rate eased to 6.8 percent in July 2026 from 8.6
percent in June, as price increases slowed in food, transport, housing, and several other major
commodity groups, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported in a press conference on
August 13

The July rate brought the province’s average inflation from January to July 2026 to 6.3 percent,
compared with the -0.8 percent recorded in July 2025.
PSA-Bukidnon Chief Statistical Specialist Maria Evangeline N. Non said the slowdown was
mainly driven by the slower increase in the food and non-alcoholic beverages index, which rose
by 8.5 percent in July from 9.9 percent in June. Transport inflation also slowed to 16.9 percent
from 20.6 percent, while the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels index increased by
only 0.5 percent, down from 2.1 percent.
“Other groups that recorded slower price increases included restaurants and accommodation
services at 5.1 percent from 8.8 percent; recreation, sport and culture at 4.6 percent from 6.1

percent; education services at 2.2 percent from 3.5 percent; and health at 4.0 percent from 4.7
percent,” Non said.
She said that despite the slowdown, food remained the biggest contributor to Bukidnon’s overall
inflation, accounting for 3.82 percentage points of the province’s 6.8-percent inflation rate.
Transport contributed another 1.80 percentage points, while restaurants and accommodation
services added 0.30 percentage points.
“Food inflation remained high at 8.8 percent in July, although several major food items recorded
slower price increases. Rice inflation slowed to 30.1 percent in July from 37.9 percent in June,
while ready-made food and other food products eased to 3.7 percent from 5.1 percent. Milk,
dairy products, and eggs also posted a slightly faster annual decline,” Non said.
Non also reported faster price increases for corn (23.3 percent), oils and fats (6.7 percent), and
vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses (1.2 percent).
Rice remained the largest contributor to food inflation, accounting for 6.25 percentage points,
followed by corn at 2.51 percentage points and fish and other seafood at 1.51 percentage points.
“For comparison, Northern Mindanao’s inflation eased to 6.4 percent in July from 7.0 percent in
June, while the national inflation rate slowed to 6.2 percent from 6.4 percent,” Non said.
(Kryztell Marie A. Villaraza/PIA-10/Bukidnon)