Manila, Feb. 7 -- The Philippine Statistics Authority in Bicol (PSA-5) reported on Friday that the inflation rate for January 2025 accelerated to 3.2 percent from 2.4 percent in December 2024.

In a press conference at the agency's regional office, PSA-5 statistical specialist Ray Merjilla said the main contributors to the rise in inflation were food and non-alcoholic beverages, housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, as well as transport.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages accounted for 53.4 percent of the inflation increase in the region, particularly due to rising prices of vegetables, tubers, cooking bananas, meat, and fish.

Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels, which contributed 15.2 percent to inflation incre...