DAVAO CITY (December 16) — Inflation is starting to pinch Davao Region’s lowest-income families. For the bottom 30 percent of households, prices rose 0.2 percent in November, reversing last month’s -0.9 percent decline, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA-11) reported Monday.
While still below last year’s 1.9 percent, the increase signals growing pressure on households already struggling to make ends meet. PSA-11 said the uptick stemmed from a slower drop in food and non-alcoholic beverages, which fell -1.8 percent versus -4.2 percent in October.
Other essentials also became more expensive. Prices climbed faster for clothing and footwear (2.8%), health (6.4%), transport (2.0%), information and communication (3.3%), and personal care goods (4.2%), placing additional strain on low-income families’ budgets.
Food inflation for the bottom 30 percent, a key measure of daily living costs, posted a slower price decline of -2.2 percent, easing only slightly from October’s -4.7 percent, signaling that households must stretch tighter budgets to cover basic nutrition.
Economists warn that even modest price rises can have outsized social impacts, reducing spending on health, education, and other essentials, and increasing vulnerability to food insecurity.
“Small changes in the price of food and basic goods hit us hard,” said one community worker in Davao City. “Families are already juggling daily needs, and every peso counts.”
To cope with rising costs, PSA-11 and local government units recommend practical steps:
- Budget carefully by tracking daily expenses and prioritizing essential items.
- Buy in bulk or local markets where prices may be lower.
- Use government programs such as the Pantawid Pamilyang Pilipino Program (4Ps), subsidized rice through the National Food Authority, and community feeding or livelihood programs.
- Stay informed on price trends through PSA-11 bulletins and LGU advisories.
