THE annual rate of the general retail price index (GRPI) in the National Capital Region (NCR) eased to 1.8 percent in June, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In its latest report, the agency said that the figure was slower compared to the 4.4-percent growth recorded last year and the 2.0 percent seen in May.

"The primary contributor to the deceleration of the annual growth rate of GRPI in [the] NCR was the slower annual increase recorded in the index of machinery and transport equipment," PSA said. Its price index slowed at 0.4 percent in June 2024 from 0.6 percent in the previous month.

In addition, slower annual increments were noted in the indices of five commodity groups during the month.

Food prices eased to 2.4 percent from 2.5 percent in May; beverages and tobacco, 2.6 percent from 3.0 percent; and mineral fuels, lubricants and related materials, 5.7 percent from 6.1 percent.

Chemicals, including animal and vegetable oils and fats, also posted slower growth in prices at 2.0 percent from 2.2 percent; and manufactured goods classified chiefly by materials, 1.1 percent from 1.3 percent.

Higher annual increase, meanwhile, was observed in the index of crude materials, inedible except fuels at 0.8 percent in June 2024 from 0.6 percent in the previous month.

Miscellaneous manufactured articles also posted a higher price index during the month by 1.5 percent from 1.2 percent in May.

Meanwhile, the price index of machinery and transport equipment posted slower rates at 0.4 percent from the previous month's 0.6 percent.