Western Visayas inflation climbs to 8.4%

Inflation in Western Visayas accelerated further to 8.4 percent in August, driven largely by higher housing and utility costs, transportation, and food prices, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). INQUIRER FILES ILOILO CITY — Inflation in Western Visayas accelerated further to 8.4 percent in August, driven largely by higher housing and utility costs, transportation, and food prices, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). The August inflation rate was higher than July’s 7.8 percent rate, and a sharp reversal from the 0.3-percent deflation recorded in the region in August 2025. It was also substantially higher than the national inflation rate of 6.1 percent in August. Article continues after this advertisement READ: Inflation among poor households surges in Western Visayas Data released by the PSA Regional Statistical Services Office VI on Sept. 7 showed that Western Visayas’ average inflation rate is 5.6 percent from January to August this year. The acceleration in August was traced to housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, whose inflation rate rose to 8.9 percent from 7.3 percent in July. Transport inflation also quickened to 16.8 percent from 15.1 percent, while health costs rose by 7.6 percent from 5.1 percent. The PSA said food and non-alcoholic beverages remained the biggest contributor to the region’s overall inflation, accounting for 35.5 percent of the August rate or 2.98 percentage points. Article continues after this advertisement Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels contributed 18.7 percent or 1.57 percentage points, while transport accounted for 18.3 percent or 1.54 percentage points. Food inflation alone accelerated to 7.1 percent from 6.8 percent in July, a dramatic turnaround from the 2.5-percent decline recorded in August last year. Article continues after this advertisement READ: PH inflation eased further to 6.1% in AugThe surge was driven by prices of cereals and cereal products, which registered 21.4 percent inflation and accounted for 90.2 percent of food inflation. Rice prices were particularly significant. Rice inflation reached 26.3 percent in August, up from 19.5 percent in July. In August 2025, rice prices had posted a 17 percent year-on-year decline. The PSA data showed uneven inflation across Western Visayas. Aklan posted the region’s highest inflation rate at 10.7 percent, followed by Antique at 10.3 percent and Iloilo province at 9.7 percent. Iloilo City registered 7.6 percent, while Guimaras posted 4.9 percent. Capiz had the lowest rate at 3.8 percent and was the only area in the region where inflation slowed from July, when it stood at 4.1 percent. Inflation accelerated in all other provinces and in Iloilo City. The August figures continued a steep regional climb that began earlier this year. Western Visayas inflation stood at 2.3 percent in January, rose to 3 percent in February and 3.5 percent in March before jumping to 6.6 percent in April. READ: Palace: Uplift strategy helps bring down inflation rate Your subscription could not be saved. Please try again. Your subscription has been successful. It remained at 6.8 percent in May and June before rising to 7.8 percent in July and 8.4 percent in August./coa