Iloilo: The headline inflation rate in Western Visayas rose to 3 percent in February, increasing from 2.3 percent in January, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA). This figure, however, remains below the 3.1 percent rate reported in the same month of 2025. The PSA highlighted a steady increase in inflation since September 2025, following a -0.3 percent rate in August of that year.
According to Philippines News Agency, PSA data indicated that the average inflation for the first two months of 2026 was 2.6 percent. Out of the 13 commodity groups monitored, only one showed slower inflation, two maintained their January rates, and the rest experienced an upward trend. The rise in overall inflation in February was mainly attributed to the faster annual growth in the index of restaurants and accommodation services, which saw an inflation rate increase to 14.9 percent from 8.9 percent in January.
The food and non-alcoholic beverages category also contributed to the increase, with inflation rising to 1.6 percent from 1.1 percent in January. Additionally, the housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels category showed a 3.5 percent inflation rate, up from 2.6 percent in the previous month.
PSA Regional Director for Western Visayas, Nelida Amolar, stated that the top three commodity groups contributing to the 3 percent headline inflation were restaurants and accommodation services, with a 24.8 percent share; food and non-alcoholic beverages, with a 23.6 percent share; and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, contributing 20.1 percent. She further reported that all provinces except Capiz experienced an upward inflation trend, with Iloilo recording the highest inflation rate at 3.8 percent, while Guimaras registered the lowest at 0.4 percent.
Amolar also noted that the highly urbanized city of Iloilo saw an increase to 2.9 percent from the 2.4 percent rate recorded in the previous month. She mentioned that the effects of fuel price movements due to the Middle East crisis would be reflected in the inflation report for March, which will be released in April.
