The country’s headline inflation eased to 1.5% in November 2025, as a result of targeted government measures that have moderated food prices. This brings the average year-to-date (YTD) inflation to 1.6%, well below the government’s target range of 2.0% to 4.0% for the year.
“This is evidence that our interventions are working. We will continue to do our part at the Department of Finance [DOF] to ensure that our policies keep both food and non-food commodities affordable for Filipino families,” Finance Secretary Frederick D. Go said in a news release Friday.
This is in line with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr.’s directive to protect Filipinos’ purchasing power and strengthen food security.
The lower inflation was driven by a drop in food prices, by 0.3% year-on-year (YoY) from a 0.2% increase in October 2025 and 3.5% increase in the same month last year.
Rice prices continue to improve, averaging at ₱44.19 per kilogram (kg), significantly better than the ₱52.59/kg average in the same month last year.
Low-income households benefitted from easing food prices as inflation for the bottom 30% income households fell to -0.2% in November—its sixth consecutive month of contraction. This was driven by lower food prices, utilities, and transport.
The national government continues to expand and expedite efforts to ensure an affordable and steady supply of food in the market ahead of the holiday season, including other basic services.
President Marcos Jr. signed Executive Order No. 105 last month to extend the 15% tariff rate on imported rice until the end of the year to better respond to changes in world market prices.
To ensure stable food prices and fair income for farmers, EO 105 upgrades the current tariff system by providing automatic tariff adjustments based on movements in international rice prices beginning next year.
This will be implemented by the new Inter-Agency Group on Rice Tariff Adjustment, of which the DOF is a member.
To provide relief to Filipinos affected by the recent typhoons and strengthen disaster readiness, the President declared a one-year state of national calamity. This authorizes the government to impose price ceilings on basic necessities and prime commodities, provide no-interest loans to affected sectors, and use calamity funds for rescue, relief, recovery, and rehabilitation.
To ensure uninterrupted power in typhoon-affected areas, the Energy Regulatory Commission (ERC) ordered Meralco and all electric cooperatives to suspend power disconnections for bills due from November 4 to December 31, 2025.
They also extended a two-month, no-interest installment plan for customers consuming up to 100 kilowatt-hour (kWh) to provide temporary financial relief.