CAGAYAN de Oro City— Rising rice and gasoline prices helped push Camiguin’s inflation rate to 5.2% in September, up from 5.0% in August, adding pressure on households already paying more for food, transport and basic needs, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
The September rate was 5.7 percentage points higher than the -0.5% recorded in September 2025. However, average inflation for the first nine months of 2026 remained at 2.5%.
PSA Camiguin Statistical Specialist Marz Ramer Cabisada presented the figures during an online press conference on Oct. 14, identifying food and non-alcoholic beverages, transport, and household-related expenses as the major contributors to inflation.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages inflation accelerated to 4.6% in September from 3.0% in August. Rice inflation rose sharply to 9.3% from 2.7%, while inflation for cereals and cereal products increased to 8.0% from 2.5%.
Inflation for fruits and nuts also accelerated to 6.7% from 2.3%. In contrast, fish and seafood inflation eased to 5.2% from 8.6%, while vegetables and tubers slowed to 8.9% from 9.5%.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages accounted for 39.4% of the contribution shares reported by the PSA, followed by transport at 36.3% and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 9.8%.
Transport inflation remained high at 18.9%, although it eased from 23.7% in August. Gasoline inflation reached 37%, while passenger transport services recorded 9.8%.
Household-related expenses also remained a concern. Inflation for furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance stood at 15.0%, slightly lower than August’s 15.1%. Within this group, goods and services for routine household maintenance registered 23.4% inflation.
Cabisada said the government monitors gasoline prices to prevent arbitrary increases at fuel stations.
The figures, however, do not specify how much of the price increases consumers actually paid for individual products or what enforcement actions were taken against fuel retailers, if any.
Across the 13 major commodity groups, six recorded faster inflation in September than in August: food and non-alcoholic beverages; alcoholic beverages and tobacco; clothing and footwear; health; restaurant and accommodation services; and personal care and miscellaneous goods and services.
The data highlight the continuing pressure of food, fuel and household costs on consumers.
For households, the key concern is whether prices will ease in the coming months and whether government monitoring and other interventions will help contain increases in essential expenses. (With a report from Recthie T. Paculba/PIA-10/Camiguin)
