ILOILO City – Western Visayas posted a sharp month-on-month inflation increase as prices in housing, water, electricity, and other utilities climbed in October 2025, nudging the region’s overall inflation rate to 0.7 percent from 0.2 percent in September, latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) showed.
The mild but notable uptick marked the region’s strongest inflation movement since early 2025, driven mainly by cost adjustments in essential household spending. Despite this, the October figure remained significantly lower than the 4.1 percent inflation recorded in the same month last year.
“The slight uptick in Western Visayas’ inflation for October reflects adjustments in key sectors, particularly housing and utilities,” said Miguel Gallego I, Statistical Specialist II of PSA Region 6. “While food prices continue to decline overall, the slower drop in cereals and other essential commodities contributed to the region’s modest inflation movement this month.”
PSA reported that Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels drove much of the upward movement, posting 1.1 percent inflation in October after recording -0.3 percent in September. Increases were also seen in:
* Restaurants and Accommodation Services (4.7 percent from 4.0 percent)
* Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Maintenance (5.4 percent)
* Transport (1.9 percent)
* Recreation, Sport and Culture (3.8 percent)
* Personal Care and Miscellaneous Goods and Services (3.1 percent)
Food inflation remained in negative territory at -2.2 percent, though this was an improvement from -2.5 percent the previous month. The easing was attributed largely to a slower decline in cereals and cereal products (-12.1 percent from -14.4 percent) as well as higher inflation in fish, oils and fats, and sugar and desserts. Cereals continued to exert the biggest pull on food prices, dragging the overall food inflation rate by 4.12 percentage points.
Bottom 30% income households see slight recovery
Inflation for the region’s bottom 30 percent income households improved to -1.4 percent from -2.3 percent, driven by a slower decline in food prices and higher inflation in the housing and utilities group. The figure remained far lower than the 5.9 percent posted in October 2024.
Provincial breakdown
Most provinces recorded higher inflation in October except Capiz and Iloilo City, which saw slight dips. PSA data showed:
* Iloilo Province posted the highest inflation at 1.4 percent
* Antique had the lowest at -0.9 percent
* Iloilo City registered 1.9 percent, down from 2.1 percent in September
PSA noted that all figures were derived from its Retail Price Survey using 2018 as the base year./PN
