Iloilo City, province post highest inflation rates in W. Visayas

The city and province of Iloilo recorded the highest inflation rates in Western Visayas in November 2025, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The highly urbanized city registered an inflation rate of 2.3 percent, up from 1.9 percent in October, while Iloilo province followed closely at 1.5 percent, rising slightly from 1.4 percent.

Region-wide, headline inflation accelerated to 1.0 percent, up from 0.7 percent in October. While this reflects a gradual recovery from months of near-zero or negative inflation, the current rate remains well below the 3.4 percent recorded in November 2024.

Inflation measures the annual rate of change in the cost of goods and services. It is derived from the Consumer Price Index (CPI), which tracks average price movements using 2018 as the base year.

Services and transport lead climb

The PSA identified three major commodity groups driving the regional inflation rate in November:

• Restaurant and accommodation services registered a 5.5 percent increase and contributed 0.26 percentage points to the overall inflation.
• Transport saw a 2.6 percent inflation rate, contributing 0.23 percentage points.
• Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, though easing slightly to 3.9 percent, still contributed 0.13 percentage points.

Other commodity groups showing higher inflation included:

• Clothing and footwear: 2.6 percent
• Health: 1.5 percent
• Information and communication: 0.6 percent
• Recreation, sport and culture: 4.0 percent

Food inflation remains negative, but narrows

Food prices, while still falling year-on-year, declined at a slower pace.

Food inflation registered at -1.2 percent in November, an improvement from -2.2 percent in October. In comparison, food inflation was 3.9 percent in November 2024.

Cereals and cereal products were the largest deflationary force, with a -10.4 percent inflation rate, though less severe than the -12.1 percent in October.

This group contributed -3.51 percentage points to the overall food inflation figure.

Fish and seafood prices surged to 7.0 percent, and fruits and nuts returned to positive inflation at 0.5 percent, adding upward pressure on food costs.

Vulnerable households still see mild deflation

Among the bottom 30 percent income households—who spend a larger share of their budget on essentials—November inflation remained in negative territory at -0.5 percent, though it improved from -1.4 percent in October.

The food and non-alcoholic beverages group posted an inflation rate of -1.7 percent, up from -3.0 percent, while transport inflation rose to 2.8 percent from 1.6 percent.

Despite overall deflation, some items drove costs upward, including Alcoholic beverages and tobacco (5.1 percent) and Restaurants and accommodation services (4.8 percent).

Mixed inflation trends

While Iloilo City and province topped the regional inflation rankings, Guimaras recorded the lowest rate at -1.3 percent, continuing its deflationary trend.

Other provincial inflation rates for November 2025 include those of Aklan (0.9 percent), Antique (-0.2 percent), and Capiz (0.4 percent).

The November data continues a recovery from Western Visayas’ inflation low of -0.3 percent in August 2025. The year-to-date regional inflation average stands at 1.4 percent, indicating sustained price stability relative to past years.

Nationally, inflation eased to 1.5 percent in November from 1.7 percent the previous month. The purchasing power of the Philippine peso in the region remains unchanged at PHP 0.79, based on 2018 values.