Inflation among poor households surges in Western Visayas

Western Visayas Map. INQUIRER FILES ILOILO CITY — Inflation among the bottom 30 percent of households in Western Visayas rose to 9.8 percent in July, with the rate reaching 12.5 percent in Iloilo province, government data showed. The regional rate was higher than the 8.2 percent recorded nationwide for the same income group in July, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). In Iloilo province, inflation among poor households rose from 9.3 percent in June to 12.5 percent in July. Aklan followed at 11.3 percent, up from 9.6 percent in June, while Antique recorded 10.2 percent. Article continues after this advertisement Inflation among poor households in Iloilo City stood at 9.3 percent, compared with 5.7 percent in Guimaras and 3.9 percent in Capiz. Western Visayas’ July rate was a sharp increase from negative 1.1 percent recorded in the same month last year. Nationally, inflation among the bottom 30 percent remained at 8.2 percent in August, up sharply from negative 0.6 percent in August 2025. The average rate for the group stood at 6.2 percent from January to August. Food and non-alcoholic beverages remained the biggest source of price pressure, accounting for 52.5 percent of overall inflation among poor households in August. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels contributed 18.9 percent, while transportation accounted for 12 percent. Article continues after this advertisement Rice remained a major driver. Rice inflation among the bottom 30 percent accelerated to 22.5 percent in August from 19.3 percent in July, even as overall food inflation eased to 8.3 percent from 8.5 percent. The PSA said it measures inflation for the bottom 30 percent separately because poorer households devote a larger share of their income to food and other basic necessities. Article continues after this advertisement The agency has yet to release detailed August provincial figures for the bottom 30 percent in Western Visayas. Outside Metro Manila, inflation among poor households accelerated to 8.4 percent in August from 8.3 percent in July, while the rate in the National Capital Region eased to 4.3 percent from 4.5 percent. Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. This meant poor households outside Metro Manila faced inflation nearly twice the rate recorded in the capital region. /gsg