Samar inflation slows to 12.7% in August, remains region’s highest

By SAMAR NEWS.COM
September 24, 2026

CATBALOGAN CITY – The inflation rate in Samar province showed signs of cooling in August 2026, slowing down to 12.7 percent from the 13.3 percent recorded in the previous month, according to the latest data released by the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

While this marks a deceleration in the pace of price increases, the year-on-year comparison reveals a significant surge in the cost of living compared to a year ago when inflation stood at just 1.0 percent in August 2025.

Samar continues to grapple with higher-than-average price pressures, registering a year-to-date inflation rate of 10.3 percent. This figure stands markedly above the regional average for Eastern Visayas (8.4 percent) and the national average (6.1 percent) for the same period.

Drivers of Deceleration

The primary factor behind the latest monthly slowdown was the easing price growth in Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages, which accounted for nearly three-fourths (74.7%) of the overall deceleration. This commodity group saw its inflation rate fall from 13.4 percent in July to 12.0 percent in August.

Key food items contributing to this downturn included:

- Vegetables, tubers, plantains, and cooking bananas: Inflation slowed drastically from 20.9 percent to 15.0 percent.

- Fish and other seafood: Price growth eased from 11.1 percent to 7.7 percent.

- Cereals and cereal products: While still high, the rate moderated slightly from 28.6 percent to 27.9 percent.

The Transport sector was the second major driver of the deceleration, contributing 12.6 percent to the slowdown. Despite the improvement, transport costs remain severely elevated, with an inflation rate of 28.6 percent – a decrease from the blistering 30.4 percent recorded in July.

Purchasing Power Declines

The sustained rise in prices has further eroded the purchasing power of the peso in the province. As of August 2026, the Purchasing Power of the Peso (PPP) in Samar settled at P0.69. This means that a peso today can buy only 69 centavos worth of goods and services compared to what it could purchase in the base year of 2018. This represents a significant erosion from Php 0.77 recorded in August of the previous year.

Regional Standing

Within the Eastern Visayas region, Samar currently holds the distinction of having the highest inflation rate among all provinces. It is followed by Biliran (11.8 percent) and Northern Samar (9.8 percent). In stark contrast, Tacloban City recorded the lowest inflation in the region at 3.8 percent, offering a more stable economic environment compared to its neighboring provinces.

Technical Breakdown

Data from the PSA indicates that while the headline numbers improved slightly, certain sub-sectors remain under extreme pressure. Passenger Transport Services registered an alarming 41.1 percent inflation rate, while Inpatient Care Services rose by 44.7 percent year-on-year.