Manila, July 17 -- The inflation rate for the bottom 30 percent of income households in the Caraga Region decreased to -1.3 percent in June, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 13 (Caraga) reported Thursday.

This figure is lower than the 0.6 percent recorded in May, reflecting improved price conditions for low-income households in the region, according to PSA-13.

PSA-13 attributed the deflation to a drop in the year-over-year growth rate of prices in the food and non-alcoholic beverage group, which fell to -3.5 percent last month from -2.4 percent in May.

A key factor in this trend was the significant reduction in rice prices, which posted an inflation rate of -19.1 percent, compared to -16.5 percent in May. The food and non-alco...