Catanduanes’ headline inflation, or overall inflation, accelerated to 2.3 percent in February 2026, about a point lower than the 3.5 percent recorded a year earlier, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported last week.
“If you pay P20.00 for a can of sardines in February 2025 and if the average prices went up by 2.3% after a year’s time, you will need P20.46 to pay for the same type of sardines in February 2026,” the PSA explained.
However, it is expected that this month’s figure would be significantly higher on account of the inflationary effect of the rapid increase in the pump prices of fuel products in the island province.
The report of the Catanduanes Provincial Statistical Office issued last March 12 said the upward trend in overall inflation was primarily driven by the higher annual increment in the index of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 3.4 percent, compared to the 1.9 percent recorded this January.
Also contributing to the increase was the faster year-on-year increase in the restaurant and accommodation services, 10.1 percent from 7.3 percent.
This was followed by clothing and footwear, 5 percent from 3.8 percent.
Faster annual increases were also observed in the price indices of the following commodity groups in February: alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 1.6 percent from 1.4 percent; recreation, sports and culture, 2.3 percent from 0.8 percent; and personal care and miscellaneous goods and services, 3.3 percent from 3.1 percent.
But lower inflation rates were seen in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 1.4 percent from 4 percent; information and communication, 1.7 percent from 3.4 percent; furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 1.9 percent from 2.9 percent; and, health, 5.2 percent from 5.4 percent.
A slower decline in prices was likewise noted in the transport commodity group, the report bared.
By commodity groups, the top three contributors to the February 2026 overall inflation were food and non-alcoholic beverages (65.7 percent); restaurants and accommodations (29.6 percent); and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (9.7 percent).
The prices of food recorded an annual increase of 2.8 percent, more than double the 1.2 percent in the previous month and the 1.3 percent in February 2025.
This was primarily brought about by higher price increases in fish and other seafood, 10.3 percent from 1.2 percent, and in fruits and nuts, 15.5 percent from the previous 15.3 percent.
While slower year-on-year decreases were observed in the indices of cereals and cereal products as well as milk, other dairy products and eggs, slight increases were noted in the price indices for meat, oils and fats, vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, ready-made food and other food products.
A faster decline was observed in the index for sugar, confectionery and desserts. -3.1 percent from -0.6 percent.
Food inflation owned the biggest share of 50 percent, or 1.15 percentage points, to the overall inflation in the province in February 2026.
The top three food groups in terms of contribution to food inflation were fish and other seafood (64.8%), meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (47.1%) and fruits and nuts (27.6%).
As a result, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to P138.3 for February 2026, while the Purchasing Power of the Peso (PPP) shrank to P0.72
“This means that for an average Filipino household to afford the same basket of goods and services purchased at P100 in January 2026, they would need an additional P38.30 in February 2026,” the PSA stated.