Inflation in Central Visayas surged in November 2025, outpacing the national trend and marking its fastest pace in four months. According to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the region's inflation rate accelerated to 3.3 percent in November from 2.6 percent in October.
Regional Surge Defies National Slowdown
This regional acceleration stands in stark contrast to the national picture. Headline inflation for the entire Philippines actually slowed to 1.5 percent in November from 1.7 percent in October. The national figure fell well within the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) forecast range of 1.1 to 1.9 percent for the month. Central Visayas, however, was the clear outlier, posting the highest inflation rate among all regions.
The spike was driven by broad-based increases across several major commodity groups. Key contributors included:
- Food and non-alcoholic beverages: Rose to 3.5% from 2.9%.
- Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels: Quickened significantly to 4% from 3.1%.
- Transport: Experienced the steepest jump, surging to 5.9% from just 1% in October.
National Inflation Moderates Amid Government Action
Nationwide, the top contributor to inflation was the housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels group, accounting for 38.6 percent of the total increase. In a positive development, national food inflation posted a 0.3 percent decline, helped by lower prices for vegetables, meat, eggs, and sugar. Core inflation, which excludes volatile food and energy items, also softened to 2.4 percent.
The Department of Economy, Planning, and Development (DEPDev) credited government measures for the national slowdown. Secretary Arsenio Balisacan stated that actions to stabilize food supply, strengthen supply chains, improve food security, and widen access to affordable rice were crucial in tempering price pressures.
Contrasting Regional Performances
While seven regions recorded lower inflation in November, Central Visayas moved in the opposite direction. Inflation in the National Capital Region (NCR) slowed slightly to 2.8 percent, and areas outside NCR eased to 1.2 percent. The year-to-date national inflation stood at 1.6 percent, remaining below the government's target band of three percent, plus or minus one percentage point.
The latest data highlights the uneven economic experience across the Philippines, with Central Visayas residents feeling a sharper pinch from rising costs of living, particularly for essential utilities and transportation.
