The Davao Region’s year-on-year headline inflation rate rose by 2.6 percentage points, from 3.3 percent in February to 5.9 percent in March, the Philippine Statistics Authority in Davao Region (PSA-11) reported on Friday.
According to PSA-11, inflation in the region was 0.6 percent lower during the same period last year.
The PSA-11 attributed the March 2026 inflation uptrend mainly to a faster annual increase in transport (11.9 percent from -0.3 percent in February 2026), food and non-alcoholic beverages (5.7 percent from 3.3 percent), and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (7.0 percent from 5.4 percent).
“In addition, faster annual increases were observed in the indices of health, at 6.3 percent from 5.5 percent, and alcoholic beverages and tobacco, at 3.3 percent from 2.7 percent,” the agency added.
On the other hand, PSA-11 noted lower inflation rates in the commodity groups of furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance (3.2 percent from 3.4 percent), information and communication (0.4 percent from 0.7 percent), and restaurants and accommodation services (2.4 percent from 2.5 percent).
Meanwhile, the following commodity groups retained their previous month’s inflation rate: clothing and footwear at 2.9 percent; recreation, sport and culture (4.6 percent); education services (8.1 percent); financial services (0.0 percent); and personal care and miscellaneous goods and services (4.2 percent).
PSA-11 also reported that the region’s food inflation recorded a faster annual increase of 5.9 percent in March 2026, up from 3.3 percent in February.
“In March 2025, food inflation was lower at -0.5 percent,” it added. (PNA)
