Article by:
Sarwell Meniano
TACLOBAN CITY – Eastern Visayas recorded a 3.4 percent inflation rate in February 2026, higher than the previous month's rate, largely due to a rise in food prices, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Wednesday.
Last month's rate was up from 2.5 percent in January 2026, marking the highest adjustment in the past 18 months.
The uptrend was primarily influenced by the faster inflation rate (IR) in food and non-alcoholic beverages at 3.9 percent, from 2.7 percent in January, PSA Region 8 chief statistical specialist Mae Almonte said in a press briefing.
"The upward trend in the regional food IR in February 2026 was mainly driven by rice, which recorded a 0.1 percent IR from an annual price decrease of 5.5 percent in January 2026," Almonte said.
Faster inflation rates were also noted in fish and other seafood, fruits and nuts, vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and corn.
The PSA also reported faster inflation in housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at 4 percent, from 3.2 percent in the previous month. Recreation, sports, and culture registered a higher inflation rate of 7.5 percent, up from 2.1 percent in January.
Among the region's six provinces, Samar recorded the highest rate at 6.6 percent, up from 5 percent in January. Northern Samar's inflation rose to 3.4 percent from 0.6 percent, Biliran to 5.2 percent from 2.4 percent, Eastern Samar to 3.3 percent from 1.4 percent, and Leyte to 2.4 percent from 2.3 percent. Only Southern Leyte posted a lower rate, at 1.5 percent from 1.7 percent.
Tacloban City, the region's lone highly urbanized city, posted a 2.0 percent inflation rate, lower than January's 2.6 percent.
The inflation rate measures the annual rate of change in the consumer price index. A low inflation rate does not mean falling prices, but that prices continue to rise at a slower pace. (PNA)
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