The rate of increase in average prices of goods and services typically purchased by consumers in Western Visayas eased in June this year.

According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-6), inflation in the region settled at 0.6 last month, lower compared to May’s 1.5 percent.

PSA-6 attributed the decrease mainly to the slower growth rate of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (from 4.7 percent to 1.0 percent), and food and non-alcoholic beverages from (from 0.3 percent to -0.5 percent).

The major contributor to last month’s inflation was furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance commodity groups with 5.7 percent inflation and 29 percent share.

Nelida Amolar, PSA-6 OIC director, said all areas in the region logged a slower inflation in June.

The province of Antique posted the lowest inflation in the region at negative 2.2 percent, while Iloilo province registered the highest inlfation at 1.7 percent.IMT