By Judy Flores Partlow
DUMAGUETE CITY – Inflation in the Negros Island Region (NIR) accelerated to 6.9 percent in September from 5.8 percent in August, driven mainly by rising prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported Monday.
Ma. Goretti Novilla, PSA-NIR chief statistical specialist and regional chief, said during a press conference here that the September rate was also higher than the 0.8 percent recorded in September 2025.
The region’s average inflation rate from January to September stood at 4 percent.
Despite the latest increase, Novilla said the NIR posted the fourth-lowest inflation rate among the country’s 18 regions in September.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages accounted for 64.7 percent of the overall inflation, with the commodity group posting a 6.1 percent inflation rate.
Among the items under this category, fish and other seafood recorded an inflation rate of 11 percent; cereals and cereal products, particularly rice, 10.5 percent; and vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, 5.2 percent.
Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels were the second-largest contributors, accounting for 17.8 percent of overall inflation, with a rate of 6.3 percent.
The five commodities contributing most to September’s inflation were rice at 10.7 percent; gasoline, 36.3 percent; electricity from all sources, 14.6 percent; restaurants, cafes, and similar establishments, 6.6 percent; and other pelagic fish, 10.4 percent.
Food inflation also accelerated to 6.3 percent in September from 4.2 percent in August, reversing the negative 0.4 percent recorded in September 2025.
Among the areas in the region, Siquijor posted the highest inflation rate at 9.1 percent, followed by Bacolod City at 8.4 percent, Negros Oriental at 6.9 percent, and Negros Occidental at 6.4 percent.
For households belonging to the bottom 30 percent income group, the average inflation rate from January to September was 3.6 percent.
Meanwhile, PSA-NIR officials cautioned that inflation could rise further as the region braces for a very strong El Niño, projected to affect Negros Oriental by the end of the year.
PSA-Negros Oriental chief and chief statistical officer Ariel Fortuito said the weather phenomenon could put additional pressure on prices, particularly if agricultural production is affected.
He said PSA data could help government agencies, including the Department of Agriculture, and other sectors prepare mitigation measures against the anticipated effects of El Niño.
Novilla urged consumers to practice prudent spending and prioritize essential goods amid rising fuel, electricity, food, and other basic commodity prices. (PNA)
