Consumer prices in Cebu Province continued to climb in May 2026, with inflation accelerating to 13.6 percent, the highest among provinces and highly urbanized cities in Central Visayas, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).
Data presented by the PSA Cebu Provincial Statistical Office during an information dissemination forum on Monday, June 15, showed inflation rising from 12.9 percent in April and a sharp jump from 0.5 percent in May 2025.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages remained the primary driver of inflation in the province, posting a 17.9 percent rate in May, up from 16.5 percent in April.
The commodity group contributed 7.74 percentage points to overall inflation.
Transport followed as another major contributor, with inflation rising to 24.3 percent from 22.4 percent in April, adding 2.22 percentage points to the total.
Food inflation alone climbed to 19.1 percent in May from 17.5 percent in April, significantly higher than the negative 2.8 percent recorded in May 2025.
PSA data showed sharp increases across key food items, with vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and similar products posting the highest surge at 53.3 percent.
Corn followed at 40.8 percent, while fruits and nuts registered 32.5 percent. Fish and other seafood rose by 28.7 percent, oils and fats by 13.2 percent, and rice by 10.9 percent.
Inflation among the bottom 30 percent income households also rose to 18.1 percent in May from 16.1 percent in April, reflecting heavier pressure on low-income families.
For this group, food and non-alcoholic beverages accounted for 22.4 percent inflation and contributed 76.8 percent of the total price increase.
Transport inflation among the same income bracket also surged to 29 percent from 20.8 percent.
Among highly urbanized cities, Cebu City recorded the lowest inflation rate at 9.1 percent, easing from 9.4 percent in the previous month.
PSA attributed the slowdown to softer increases in housing and transport costs, with housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels easing to 4.1 percent from 5.5 percent, and transport slowing to 17.6 percent from 21.1 percent.
Mandaue City and Lapu-Lapu City both posted 9.7 percent inflation, down from 10.7 percent and 11.4 percent respectively, driven by slower price increases in food, housing, and transport-related commodities.
At the regional level, Central Visayas inflation remained unchanged at 10.8 percent in May 2026, still the highest among all regions nationwide.
Food and non-alcoholic beverages continued to dominate regional inflation, contributing 5.93 percentage points as the commodity group rose to 15.2 percent from 14.5 percent, driven mainly by cereals, vegetables, and fish.
Photo courtesy of Jacq Hernandez
Comments