Konteksto

Headline inflation · CPI year-on-year PSA, 2018-based

6.8%

May 2026 · released by PSA monthly

▼ Eased: −0.4 ppt vs 7.2% the month before

Above the BSP 2–4% target — 3 straight months

Lugi ka ba? Your raise vs inflation

Inflation eats raises. Compare yours against the trailing 12-month average of 2.8% (12-month average is the fair basis for salary comparisons — the 6.8% headline is May alone).

Inflation eases to 6.8% in May — a 3rd straight month above the BSP target

Headline inflation came in at 6.8% in May 2026, down from 7.2% the month before, above the BSP's 2–4% target band for a 3rd consecutive month. Core inflation stands at 4.1%. Food inflation is 5.7%.

Full commentary

A year ago headline inflation was 1.3%. The trailing 12-month average — the basis of Konteksto's salary check — is 2.8%, against a 2025 full-year average of 1.7%. Rice inflation, a key driver of Filipino household budgets, is at 15.6%. Source: Philippine Statistics Authority (2018-based CPI). Next release: first week of next month.

Source: Konteksto — data from PSA, as of May 2026.

Core inflation 4.1%excl. volatile food & energy
Food inflation 5.7%food & non-alcoholic drinks
Rice inflation 15.6%the PH staple, tracked on its own
A year ago 1.3% May 2025
Trailing 12-mo avg 2.8%the salary-check basis
2025 average 1.7%full prior year

Monthly inflation since 2019 — shaded: BSP 2–4% target

Inflation under each president — average annual rate (World Bank, since 1960)

Marcos Sr. 1966–1985
14.3%
C. Aquino 1986–1991
10.5%
Ramos 1992–1997
7.6%
Estrada 1998–2000
6.4%
Arroyo 2001–2009
4.7%
Aquino III 2010–2015
3.1%
Duterte 2016–2021
3.0%
Marcos Jr. 2022–2024
5.0%

Straight averages of official annual rates (World Bank FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG) — no editorial adjustments. Transition years count toward the incoming president. Marcos Jr. figure runs through the latest complete year. Worst single year: 50.3% in 1984 (Marcos Sr.).

Magkano noon? → convert any peso amount across the years

vs ASEAN and the US — latest full-year average (World Bank)

🇵🇭 PHThailandIndonesiaMalaysiaVietnamSingaporeUnited States
3.2%
2024		1.4%
2024		2.2%
2024		1.8%
2024		3.6%
2024		2.4%
2024		3.0%
2024

Sources & method

  • Monthly rates: PSA OpenSTAT, 2018-based CPI (tables 0012M4ACP23 & 0012M4ACP31), fetched after each monthly release into Konteksto's archive.
  • Annual international comparison: World Bank FP.CPI.TOTL.ZG.
  • Target band: BSP inflation target, 2–4% for 2024–2028.
  • The salary check runs entirely in your browser — sweldo mo, sa device mo lang.