E. Visayas’ inflation slightly rises to 0.5% in October 

by evmwb

Tacloban City–Eastern Visayas’ inflation rate edged up to 0.5 percent in October 2025, slightly higher than the 0.4 percent recorded in September, according to a Wednesday report by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The rise was mainly driven by a bump in the housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels commodity group, which climbed to 0.7 percent from 0.4 percent. Faster price hikes in the health sector—up to 2.6 percent from 2.3 percent—also contributed, with inpatient‑care services jumping from 2.6 percent to 4.6 percent year‑on‑year. Additionally, “the faster inflation rate of alcoholic beverages and tobacco, which rose to 4 percent in October 2025 from 3.8 percent in September, likewise helped push the regional inflation higher,” said PSA Region 8 chief statistical specialist Mae Almonte in a press briefing.

Among the region’s six provinces, three saw higher inflation: Samar led with 1.9 percent (up from 0.8 percent), Biliran rose to 1 percent from 0.5 percent, and Northern Samar turned positive at 0.2 percent from ‑0.4 percent. In contrast, Southern Leyte’s inflation fell to 0.1 percent from 0.7 percent, Leyte dropped to 0.2 percent from 0.5 percent, and Eastern Samar stayed steady at ‑0.7 percent for the second month. Tacloban City, the region’s only highly urbanized city, recorded a slight dip to 1.2 percent from 1.3 percent.

The PSA clarified that a low inflation rate doesn’t mean prices are falling; it means they’re still rising, just at a slower pace.