The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) says Philippine inflation rate hit an 11-month high in January due mainly to higher prices of housing and utilities, government data released.

PSA attributed the uptrend to the 3.3% increase in prices of housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, the highest since August 2024’s 3.8%. This accounted for 45.9% to the uptrend.

Consumer prices grew by 2.0% in January, accelerating from 1.8% in December 2025, but slower than the 2.9% in January 2025. This is the fastest in 11 months since the 2.1% in February 2025.

According to National Statistician Claire Dennis Mapa, housing prices increased by 2.9% in January, faster than the 2.4% in December.

Our reading is that adjustments to annual rentals start in January, so there are adjustments. We see this continuing, so there could be further hikes in February and March, he said in a press briefing.

Restaurants and accommodation services also contributed to the faster print as prices grew 4.0% in January versus 2.4% the previous month, with packed food and fast food costing more despite raw materials having lower prices.

?Faster annual increases were also seen in clothing and footwear (up 2.3%); furnishings, household equipment, and routine household (up 2.3%); health (up 3.0%); information and communication (up 0.8%); and personal care, and miscellaneous goods (2.6%).

Meanwhile, slower inflation rates were seen in food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.1%); alcoholic beverages and tobacco (3.1%); education services (2.8%).

The transport index posted a 0.3% annual decline, while the financial services index was unchanged from the previous month.

?Core inflation, which excludes selected food and energy items, increased to 2.8% from 2.4% in December 2025.

Compared with inflation rates in December, 11 regions recorded an acceleration with Region VII or Central Visayas having the highest rate of 5.6. The National Capital Region (NCR) posted a 1.9% inflation rate.