INFLATION in the Philippines quickened for the second consecutive month in September, as surging prices of vegetables and petroleum products drove consumer costs higher
According to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), the country’s inflation rate reached 1.7% last month, up from 1.5% in August 2025, though still lower than the 1.9% recorded in September 2024.
National Statistician Dennis Mapa said the recent spell of bad weather, including heavy rains and flooding, severely affected vegetable-producing regions and caused supply disruptions.
“We observed that the rains and flooding, particularly in our vegetable-producing provinces, contributed to the increase,” Mapa explained.
The vegetables, tubers, and cooking bananas group saw inflation surge to 19.4%, the highest since January. Some vegetables posted double-digit increases, such as cabbage (53%), chilis and peppers (42%), and pumpkin (33.6%).
Mapa cautioned that inflation could remain elevated in the coming months as the country continues to experience stormy weather.
“We see that this may continue in the next few months because of the storms in recent weeks,” he said.
Beyond food prices, the PSA also noted higher petroleum prices, along with increased power and water rates, and more expensive fish and pork products, as major factors behind the September inflation uptick.