It was for the second consecutive month in July, bringing inflation to a year-on-year six-month peak of 2.7 per cent, the government announced on Wednesday.
The shortage of public transit as more Filipinos returned to work during the steady easing of the lockout forced up travel prices.
The latest Philippine Statistics Authority data showed that the rate of increase in prices of basic commodities last month was the fastest. It happened since the 2.9 percent posted in January.
Month-on-month, July market prices rose 0.4 per cent from June.
The July headline figure took the average of seven months to 2.5 per cent. It was below the target range of 2-4 per cent of the government.
In fact, transport inflation soared from 2.4 percent a month earlier to 6.3 percent last month.
It happened when most areas of the world were put under a less-restrictive quarantine for the general community (GCQ).
The Average National Tricycle Increased
National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa said the average national tricycle fare in July increased 33.9 per cent year-on-year. It was higher than the 26.8 per cent rise in June.
In Metro Manila, for instance, the average tricycle fare per person skyrocketed to P17 last month. Last time, it was from P8.50 a year ago, Mapa noted.
Domestic airfare increased 12.6 percent year-on-year in July, while ferry and ship fares rose 27.7 percent.
Jeepney fare also inched up by 2.5 percent last month.
While 75 percent of the economy resumed under GCQ, public transport did not keep up with demand due to remaining social distancing restrictions. In addition, it aims to prevent COVID-19 from further spreading.
But as Metro Manila and four provinces reverted to a stricter modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) to give health and medical front-liners some time-out amid the rising number of infections, Acting Socioeconomic Planning Secretary Karl Kendrick Chua said in a statement.
“We need to remain vigilant and ensure that strategies are well-placed to ensure stable supply and delivery of essential commodities in all parts of the country.”
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