“Meanwhile, higher annual growths were observed in alcoholic beverages and tobacco index at 6.2 percent; health index, 2.3 percent; education index, 2.1 percent; and restaurant and miscellaneous goods and services index, 1.7 percent,” the statistical agency said in an accompanying statement. Core inflation was also slower in June. “Similarly, excluding selected food and energy items, core inflation continued to move at a slower pace at 2.6 percent in June 2017. For the first half of 2017, headline inflation settled at 3.1 percent and core inflation at 2.8 percent. Analysts polled by The Manila Times had expected inflation in June to stand between 2.8 percent and 3.2 percent.

Source: Manila Times July 05, 2017 03:33 UTC