Central Visayas inflation for April highest in PH, at 10.8%
CEBU CITY, Philippines — Inflation, or the general increase in the prices of goods, in Central Visayas accelerated to an all-time high in April as surges in oil prices weighed down on transportation and logistics.
For April, the region posted an inflation rate of 10.8 percent, the highest in the Philippines, the state statistics bureau announced on Wednesday, May 13.
It is also twice the national average of 5.5 percent.
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The major drivers behind the high inflation included ‘faster year-on-year increase’ in essential goods, particularly food, non-alcoholic beverages, transportation, and logistics.
“The primary source of the acceleration in the regional inflation was the annual increase in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages,” said Wilma Perante, director of the Philippine Statistics Authority here (PSA-7).
Increase in utilities such as water and power also fueled faster inflation in Central Visayas.
By sector
According to data from PSA-7, prices of food and beverages in Central Visayas rose to 14.5 percent and 10.1 percent, respectively, from the previous month.
Also contributing to the higher regional inflation were transport, which posted a 22.5-percent annual increase from 8.2 percent.
Transport covers fuel prices, including gasoline and diesel, and passenger transport by sea and inland waterway.
Likewise, housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels rose to 6.0 percent from 4.2 percent in March 2026.
Conversely, only two sectors posted a decrease in prices. These are alcoholic beverages and tobacco, and health, which refers to medicine and healthcare services.
By area
Cebu province posted the highest inflation rate in Central Visayas, at 12.9 percent. It was followed by Lapu-Lapu City at 11.4 percent, then Mandaue City at 10.7 percent.
Cebu City, considered the regional economic hub, posted an inflation of 9.4 percent in April, up by 2.6 points.
Financially struggling families
According to Perante, the sharp increase in basic goods is most pronounced among financially struggling families in the region.
Data from PSA-7 showed that for the bottom 30 percent income households in Central Visayas, inflation rate has increased from 8.3 percent in March to nearly double at 14 percent in April.
For a family in the Cebu province, the situation was even more difficult, with inflation for the bottom 30 percent reaching 16.1 percent in April 2026.
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