Negros Occidental inflation drops to 0.5 percent in October

The headline inflation rate for all income households in Negros Occidental slowed to 0.5 percent in October 2025, a sharp decline from 1.4 percent in September and 3.5 percent a year earlier, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) provincial office.

The PSA presented the data during a press conference on November 14 at its provincial office in Bacolod City, led by Officer-in-Charge and Supervising Statistical Specialist Diesah S. Biaoco.

The decline was primarily driven by the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels commodity group, which recorded a 0.6 percent inflation rate in October, down from 1.0 percent in September.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages also had a significant impact, with a deflation of -0.7 percent in October from a 1.2 percent inflation the previous month. This group accounted for 87.1 percent of the downward pressure on inflation.

The housing and utilities group contributed 7.0 percent to the overall inflation rate in the province.

Lower inflation rates were also observed in the following categories:

• Clothing and Footwear, from 3.2 percent to 2.1 percent,
• Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance, from 1.8 percent to 1.7 percent,
• Health, from 2.4 percent to 1.9 percent.

Conversely, minor upticks were recorded in:

• Transport, from 1.4 percent to 1.6 percent,
• Personal Care and Miscellaneous Goods and Services, from 1.5 percent to 1.6 percent.

Other commodity groups maintained their previous month’s inflation levels:

• Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco at 7.0 percent,
• Information and Communication at 0.3 percent,
• Recreation, Sport and Culture at 2.2 percent,
• Education Services at -2.5 percent,
• Restaurants and Accommodation Services at 1.1 percent,
• Financial Services at 0.0 percent.

Meanwhile, Bacolod City, the provincial capital, recorded a slight increase in inflation to 1.2 percent in October, up from 1.1 percent in September. The figure is still significantly lower than the 3.2 percent recorded in October 2024.

The main driver of the increase was the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels group, which surged to 2.0 percent inflation in October from 0.8 percent in September. This group accounted for 85.2 percent of the city’s overall inflation rate.

Transport followed as the second-highest contributor, rising to 1.0 percent from 0.5 percent and accounting for 13.6 percent of inflationary pressure.

Slight increases were also observed in:

• Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance, from 1.7 percent to 1.8 percent.

However, several groups posted lower inflation rates in October compared to September:

• Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, from -0.7 percent to -1.3 percent,
• Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, from 5.7 percent to 5.3 percent,
• Clothing and Footwear, from 2.3 percent to 1.9 percent,
• Health, from 4.4 percent to 3.7 percent,
• Recreation, Sport and Culture, from 3.3 percent to 3.1 percent,
• Personal Care and Miscellaneous Goods and Services, from 5.8 percent to 5.1 percent.

No changes were recorded in:

• Information and Communication at 0.0 percent,
• Education Services at 3.7 percent,
• Restaurants and Accommodation Services at 3.3 percent,
• Financial Services at 0.0 percent.

Nationally, the Philippines’ headline inflation stood at 1.7 percent in October, unchanged from September. The Negros Island Region also saw a drop in inflation to 0.4 percent from 0.8 percent.

The year-to-date average inflation for Negros Occidental was recorded at 1.5 percent, while Bacolod City posted a slightly higher 1.8 percent.

The PSA uses the 2018 base year for its Consumer Price Index and derives data through its Retail Price Survey of Commodities.