THE Philippine Statistics Authority in Davao Region (PSA 11) reported that the inflation rate in the region increased to 6.2 percent in July 2018.

This is much higher than the 5.7-percent national inflation rate in July.

"In the previous month, the region's inflation was observed at 5.4 percent and in the same period in 2017 at 2.5%," PSA 11 said in a statement.

The agency said the increase was primarily due to an increase in all commodity indices except for education, which had an inflation rate of 1.4 percent in July from 2.2 percent in June.

The food and non-alcoholic beverages basket posted a higher inflation of 6.4 percent in July from 5 percent in June; alcoholic beverages and tobacco was at 15.4 percent from 15 percent; clothing and footwear at 3.9 percent from 3.7 percent; housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at 6.9 percent from 6.2 percent; furnishing, household equipment and routine maintenance of the house at 4 percent from 2.8 percent; health at 5.5 percent from 4.3 percent; transport at 9.2 percent from 8.2 percent; communication at 1.2 percent from 1 percent; recreation and culture at 2.8 percent from 2.1 percent; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services at 5.6 percent from 4.7 percent.

Among the provinces in the region, Davao del Sur posted the highest inflation rate for July 2018 at 6.6 percent, higher than the regional inflation rate.

Compostela Valley posted an inflation rate of 6.4 percent while Davao del Norte and Davao Oriental posted 5.5 percent.