Cebu logs highest inflation rate in Central Visayas

Local

CEBU Province recorded the highest inflation rate among provinces and highly urbanized cities in Central Visayas for the month of May.

Data presented by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Cebu Provincial Statistical Office during its inflation report dissemination forum on Monday, June 15, showed that inflation in Cebu Province accelerated from 12.9 percent in April to 13.6 percent in May.

The figure was also significantly higher than the 0.5 percent recorded in May 2025.

Meanwhile, inflation in Cebu City eased to 9.1 percent from 9.4 percent, while Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City both posted 9.7 percent, down from 11.4 percent and 10.7 percent, respectively.

PSA data showed that food and non-alcoholic beverages remained the primary driver of inflation in Cebu Province.

The commodity group posted an inflation rate of 17.9 percent in May, higher than the 16.5 percent recorded in April, and accounted for 73.5 percent of the overall acceleration in inflation.

Transport followed with a 24.3-percent inflation rate, up from 22.4 percent in April, contributing 22.8 percent to the increase.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages also contributed the largest share to the province's inflation rate, accounting for 7.74 percentage points of the 13.6-percent inflation figure.

Transport added another 2.22 percentage points.

Food inflation in Cebu Province accelerated to 19.1 percent in May from 17.5 percent in April. In the same month last year, food inflation stood at negative 2.8 percent.

Among major food items, vegetables, tubers and similar products registered a 53.3-percent inflation rate, while corn posted 40.8 percent.

Fruits and nuts recorded 32.5 percent, fish and other seafood 28.7 percent, oils and fats 13.2 percent, and rice 10.9 percent.

Inflation among the bottom 30 percent income households in Cebu Province also increased, rising to 18.1 percent in May from 16.1 percent in April.

A year ago, inflation for the income group was recorded at negative 2.1 percent.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages remained the biggest source of inflation pressure for low-income households, posting a 22.4-percent inflation rate and accounting for 76.8 percent of the increase in inflation.

Transport inflation also accelerated to 29 percent from 20.8 percent in April.

Among Cebu's highly urbanized cities, Cebu City recorded the lowest inflation rate at 9.1 percent after slower increases in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, as well as transport costs.

Housing-related inflation in the city slowed to 4.1 percent from 5.5 percent, while transport inflation eased to 17.6 percent from 21.1 percent.

Lapu-Lapu City and Mandaue City each posted a 9.7-percent inflation rate in May.

PSA attributed the slowdown in both cities to lower inflation in food, housing and transport-related commodity groups.

Meanwhile, the whole Central Visayas maintained a 10.8 percent inflation rate in May 2026, unchanged from April but still the highest among all regions in the country.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages remained the main driver, contributing 5.93 percentage points, as the group posted 15.2 percent inflation, up from 14.5 percent in April.

Price increases were largely driven by cereals, vegetables, and fish.(MyTVCebu)