Philippine inflation eased to 6.1 percent, while lower-income households stayed at 8.2 percent
Philippine consumer prices rose 6.1 percent in August from a year earlier, easing from 6.2 percent in July, the Philippine Statistics Authority said Friday. Core inflation slowed to 4.1 percent from 4.2 percent.
The relief was uneven. Inflation for households in the bottom 30 percent of the income distribution held at 8.2 percent. Their food prices rose 8.3 percent, including a 22.5 percent increase for rice, while transport costs climbed 15.3 percent.
For all households, food inflation slowed to 4.6 percent from 5.3 percent. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels slowed to 7.9 percent, but transport accelerated to 13.5 percent. The seasonally adjusted all-items index rose 0.5 percent from July.