In a recent announcement from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the inflation rate in Eastern Visayas held steady at 1.3% in January 2025, mirroring the rate from the previous month. This consistency marks the region as having the second lowest inflation rate among the 17 regions in the Philippines for the start of the year, according to Wilma Perante, the PSA’s Eastern Visayas regional director.
The regional inflation rate was notably lower than the national rate of 2.9% for January 2025, and also lower than the 3.8% recorded in January 2024. The stability over the past two months can be attributed to the slower price increases in staple goods like rice and meat, which offset the more rapid inflation seen in baked goods, fish, and other seafood products.
Specifically, rice saw a 4.2% increase, while whole meat products experienced a 1% decrease. On the other hand, baked goods increased by 1.7%, and fish and other seafood saw a 4.5% rise.
Among the six provinces in the region, only Eastern Samar and Southern Leyte reported higher inflation rates in January 2025, with Eastern Samar rising from 2.6% to 3%, and Southern Leyte from 1.3% to 2.2%. Conversely, inflation rates decreased in Biliran, Northern Samar, and Samar, with rates dropping to 1.1%, 0.8%, and 0.5% respectively. Leyte’s inflation remained unchanged at 1.1%.
Perante clarified that a low inflation rate does not indicate falling prices but rather a slower rate of price increase. This nuanced understanding is crucial for interpreting economic indicators accurately.