DUMAGUETE CITY, July 9 -- The inflation rate in the Negros Island Region (NIR) eased to 4.9 percent in June from 5.4 percent in May, remaining the lowest among all regions in the country, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Thursday.

PSA-NIR Statistical Operations and Coordination Division Chief Statistical Specialist Ma. Goretti M. Novilla said during a press conference that the June inflation rate was still higher than the 0.5 percent recorded in the same month last year. The region's average inflation rate for the first six months of 2026 stood at 3.0 percent.

"NIR remains as having the lowest inflation rate among the regions in the country for June," Novilla said.

The deceleration in June inflation was mainly driven ...