THE AVERAGE retail prices of regular-milled rice increased in five regional centers during the first week of June, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) said.
The PSA said in a price report that Digos City recorded the highest increase in the retail price of regular-milled rice of P2 to P37.50 per kilogram (/kg) compared to the mid-May period.
Other areas that posted higher average retail prices include National Capital Region (NCR), up 12 centavos at P38.20/kg, Cabanatuan City, up 50 centavos at P35/kg, Legazpi City, up 50 centavos at P33.50/kg, and Pagadian City, up 25 centavos at P34/kg.
The PSA said Cagayan de Oro City recorded the sharpest decline in the average retail price of regular-milled rice among trading centers, down P1 at P40/kg.
Prices also fell in Baguio City by 40 centavos to P32.90/kg, Tacloban City by 40 centavos to P39.10/kg, and Kidapawan City by 25 centavos to P35.50/kg.
The PSA said the average retail price of bone-in pork rose P15 in both Cagayan de Oro City and Batangas City, to P195/kg and P360/kg, respectively.
Higher average retail prices were also posted in Tuguegarao City, up P10 at P320/kg, Tacloban City, up P7.50 at P270/kg, Digos City, up P5 at P250/kg, and Iloilo City, up P2.50 at P255/kg.
San Fernando City, La Union, recorded the sharpest decline in average retail price, down P55 at P275/kg, followed by Legazpi City, down P10 at P310/kg, NCR, down P6 at P323.56/kg, Pagadian City, down P5 at P240/kg, and Cabanatuan City, down P5 at P340/kg.
The average retail price of milkfish (bangus) in Batangas City fell P25 to P190/kg, San Fernando City by P10 to P130/kg, and NCR by P1.56 to P167.33/kg.
Areas that posted higher bangus retail prices were Digos City, up P30 at P185/kg, Cebu City, up P24.50 at P300/kg, and Pagadian City, up P20 at P160/kg.
The PSA said the average retail price of red onion rose most sharply Legazpi City, by P40 to P150/kg, followed by San Fernando City by P20 to P100/kg, Iloilo City by P15 to P100/kg, Cabanatuan City by P10 to P90/kg, and NCR by P2.67 to P103.78/kg.
The average retail price per kilogram fell by P5 in Butuan City to P120/kg, by P10 in Calapan City to P80/kg, and by P15 in Kidapawan City to P95/kg, the PSA said. — Revin Mikhael D. Ochave