• CHERYL G. CRUZ
The inflation rate for all income households in Negros Occidental in October rose to 7.8 percent from 7.6 percent the month prior, but remained at 6.4 percent in the highly-urbanized Bacolod City in the last two months.
Statistical specialist II John Campomanes of the Philippine Statistics Authority-Negros Occidental, in the October 2023 summary inflation report released Nov. 9, said the slight inflation hike in the province was mainly due to increases in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, alcoholic beverages and tobacco, housing/water/electricity/gas and other fuels, furnishing/household maintenance, health, and recreation/sports and culture.
For non-food inflation, Negros Occidental also posted an average of 5.9 percent, higher than the 5.7 percent in September, due to slight rise in the prices in commodities like clothing and footwear, transport, and recreation/sports and culture, the PSA added. | CGC