MANILA – Inflation experienced by the country’s bottom 30 percent income households remained elevated at 8.2 percent in August 2026, unchanged from the previous month, bringing their average inflation rate for the first eight months of the year to 6.2 percent, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said Friday.

The August figure was driven largely by continued increases in transport, housing-related costs, food and non-alcoholic beverages, and other essential commodities and services.

Among the commodity groups that recorded faster annual increases were transport, which rose to 15.3 percent from 14.2 percent; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, which increased to 10.3 percent from 10.1 percent; and alcoholic beverages and tobacco, which climbed to 7.7 percent from 7.5 percent.

Health also posted a higher annual inflation rate at 5.7 percent from 5.2 percent, while clothing and footwear increased to 3.2 percent from 3.1 percent.

These increases were partly offset by slower inflation in food and non-alcoholic beverages, which eased to 8.0 percent from 8.3 percent.

Lower annual inflation was likewise recorded for furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 2.8 percent from 2.9 percent; education services at 3.2 percent from 3.5 percent; and restaurants and accommodation services at 7.5 percent from 7.7 percent.

The remaining commodity groups maintained their respective inflation rates from the previous month.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages remained the biggest contributor to overall inflation among the bottom 30 percent income households, accounting for a 52.5 percent share or 4.3 percentage points.

Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels followed with an 18.9 percent share, equivalent to 1.6 percentage points, while transport contributed 12.0 percent or 1.0 percentage point.

Food inflation slows

Food inflation among the bottom 30 percent income households also eased in August, registering an annual increase of 8.3 percent from 8.5 percent in July.

The slowdown was mainly attributed to vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, whose annual inflation sharply decelerated to 1.2 percent from 9.6 percent in July.

Other food categories also posted slower annual increases. Corn inflation declined to 21.8 percent from 24.8 percent, while fish and other seafood eased to 8.1 percent from 8.9 percent. Oils and fats likewise slowed to 7.3 percent from 8.3 percent.

Milk, other dairy products and eggs recorded a faster annual decline at 1.2 percent from 0.9 percent in July.

However, several food items became more expensive at a faster annual pace during the month.

Rice inflation accelerated to 22.5 percent from 19.3 percent, while flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products and other cereals rose to 4.2 percent from 3.9 percent. Fruits and nuts also increased to 6.4 percent from 5.7 percent.

The annual decreases in meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, as well as sugar, confectionery and desserts, also became slower. Meat recorded a 4.8 percent annual decrease, compared with a 5.5 percent decline in July, while sugar, confectionery and desserts posted a 1.2 percent decrease from 1.4 percent.

Ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified maintained their annual inflation rate at 2.7 percent.

Food inflation accounted for 50.9 percent, or 4.2 percentage points, of the overall August inflation rate for the bottom 30 percent income households.

Cereals and cereal products—which include rice, corn, flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products and other cereals—made up the largest share of food inflation at 84.7 percent, equivalent to 7.0 percentage points.

Fish and other seafood contributed 17.5 percent, or 1.5 percentage points, while fruits and nuts accounted for 3.1 percent, or 0.3 percentage point.