Inflation Drops in Negros Occ., Rises in Bacolod for Bottom 30% Households

BACOLOD CITY — Inflation for the bottom 30% income households in Negros Occidental dropped to 1.7% in February 2025, down from 2.3% in January 2025, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

In Bacolod City, however, inflation rose to 3.4% in February from 3.2% in January, signaling a different trend for low-income households in the city.

The February inflation rate in Negros Occidental was significantly lower than the 2.4% recorded in February 2024.

PSA data showed that food and non-alcoholic beverages had a 0.0% inflation rate in February, down from 1.4% in January, contributing 83% to the province’s overall inflation slowdown.

Other major contributors to the province’s lower inflation were restaurants and accommodation services, which dropped to 7.4% from 8.2%, and transport, which fell to -0.4% from 0.5%.

In contrast, inflation in Bacolod City increased due to higher costs in essential commodity groups.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages had a 3.0% inflation rate, unchanged from January but accounting for 44.6% of inflation acceleration.

Restaurants and accommodation services increased to 8.1% from 7.6%, while housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels surged to 1.7% from 0.3%, making up 79.2% of inflation growth in Bacolod City.

The Western Visayas region recorded a 2.4% inflation rate in February, lower than 3.4% in January, while the national inflation rate for bottom 30% income households stood at 1.5%, further decreasing from 2.4% in January.