Rising food prices lift Sarangani inflation

ALABEL, Sarangani — Inflation in Sarangani province accelerated in December 2025, driven mainly by rising food prices that weighed heavily on household budgets and reflected broader inflationary pressures seen across the country, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The PSA reported that Sarangani’s headline inflation rate increased to 2.1 percent in December, up from 0.2 percent in November, while prices of goods and services in the province’s market basket rose by 1.9 percent on a month-on-month basis. The increase coincided with the holiday season, when consumer demand typically intensifies.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages were the primary contributors to the inflation uptick, posting a 3.0 percent annual increase in December, a sharp turnaround from the 1.0 percent annual decline recorded in November. As food accounts for a substantial share of household spending—particularly among low- and middle-income families—the surge translated into higher day-to-day expenses and reduced purchasing power for consumers.

The trend in Sarangani mirrors national inflation patterns, where higher food prices have also been a major driver of rising consumer prices in recent months. Seasonal demand, supply constraints, and distribution costs have continued to influence food inflation at both the local and national levels.

In contrast, other commodity groups registered more moderate price increases. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco recorded an inflation rate of 3.7 percent, while personal care and miscellaneous goods and services rose by 2.2 percent, helping temper the overall inflation rate.

While Sarangani’s December inflation remains within manageable levels, the PSA noted that the sharp month-on-month increase highlights the vulnerability of household budgets to fluctuations in essential food prices, underscoring the importance of stable supply and price monitoring to protect consumers.