Legazpi city: Inflation in the Bicol Region eased slightly to 2.1 percent in January from 2.3 percent in December 2025, the Philippine Statistics Authority-Bicol (PSA-5) reported Monday. Ray Merjilla, PSA-5 officer-in-charge for statistical operations, said the deceleration was primarily driven by lower prices for food and non-alcoholic beverages, especially vegetables, onions, and meat.

According to Philippines News Agency, Merjilla mentioned that the primary factors contributing to the decline included a significant drop in the inflation rate of food and non-alcoholic beverages, with a 94.5 percent share in the downtrend in inflation. He emphasized this at a press briefing held in the city.

Major contributors to the inflation data were restaurant and accommodation services, housing and utilities, and personal care services. Specific items like restaurant meals, rentals, fish, fuel wood, and pork were highlighted as top contributors to the inflation figures.

Among the provinces in the region, Masbate recorded the highest inflation rate at 3.0 percent, whereas Camarines Norte posted the lowest at 0.5 percent.