In September 2026, Western Visayas reported an inflation rate of 9.2%, marking the second highest in the Philippines, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-6).
Significant Increase in Inflation Rates
We ranked second at the national level. Second highest among those outside the NCR. The first is the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
Nelida Amolar, PSA-6 Director
- August inflation rate: 8.4%
- Year-to-date average inflation (Jan-Sep 2026): 6.0%
- Inflation rate in September 2025: 0.2%
The increase from August's 8.4% to September's 9.2% reflects ongoing economic pressures. BARMM's inflation also rose to 9.7%, further illustrating regional disparities.
Food and nonalcoholic beverages heavily influenced this rise, contributing 3.56 percentage points to the inflation rate. Cereals, particularly rice, saw significant price hikes.
Rice inflation surged to 30.0%, up from 26.3% in August, driven by decreased production compared to previous years. Amolar noted government subsidies previously helped stabilize prices.
Inflation among lower-income households in the region climbed to 11.7% in September, a stark contrast to the -2.3% rate from the same month in 2025.
All provinces, except Guimaras, observed increased inflation rates. Aklan led the region with an inflation rate of 11.6%, while Iloilo City recorded 7.8%.