Most Filipinos spent money on food in the past three quarters amid surging inflation in the country, private pollster Pulse Asia said on Thursday.

In its latest survey conducted from 10 to 14 September, Pulse Asia said 95 percent of Filipinos spent more on food in the most recent quarter compared to 89 percent last year.

Pulse Asia said rice took the lion's share of Filipinos' food spending at 83 percent of total household expenditures, while 61 percent of Pinoys said they spent on non-rice food items.

The private pollster added that electricity also took a big chunk of household expenditures at 62 percent, while fuel came in next at 22 percent.

The remaining household expenditures include water (16 percent), LPG (15 percent), transportation 13 percent), cellphone load (4 percent), recreation (3 percent), and others (3 percent).

"Across geographic areas and socio-economic, majorities cite food as one of the household items they spent more on in the previous quarter (89 percent to 98 percent and 94 percent to 99 percent, respectively)," the pollster noted.

More than 50 percent of Pinoys consumed less food

While nearly all Filipino adults spent more on food in the previous quarter, Pulse Asia said a small majority of the adult population – or 53 percent – consumed less food in the same period.

The private pollster said Filipinos in Mindanao reduced their food consumption by 65 percent, followed by those in Balance Luzon at 56 percent. Meanwhile, those living in Visayas cut their food consumption by 46 percent.

Regarding classes, most people who reduced their eating consumption were in Class E at 63 percent. Class D came in next at 52 percent, followed by Class ABC with 42 percent.

Pulse Asia conducted the survey among 1,200 participants nationwide. The survey had a 2.8 percent error margin, with a 95 percent confidence level.