₱100 in 2018 worth just ₱72 in Cebu today as prices surge

Local

A ₱100 bill in 2018 would have the purchasing power of only about ₱72 in Cebu today, as rising prices, or inflation, continue to erode the value of money, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

The PSA- Central Visayas (PSA-7) on Monday, Nov. 9, announced that inflation in the province accelerated to 11.4 percent in October from 9.2 percent in September and 2.4 percent in October 2025.

This means prices rose at a much faster pace compared with September and the same period last year, adding pressure on household budgets already stretched by higher costs of basic commodities and services.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages, as well as transport, were among the major drivers of the province's inflation in October.

Food and non-alcoholic beverages recorded an inflation rate of 13.2 percent, up from 10.7 percent in September. The commodity group accounted for 42 percent of the upward movement in inflation.

Transport inflation, meanwhile, accelerated to 28 percent from 13.5 percent in the previous month, accounting for 55.6 percent of the increase in the province's inflation rate.

The PSA data also showed that passenger transport by sea and inland waterways experienced a sharp increase, with inflation climbing to 67.7 percent in October from 8.2 percent in September.

Gasoline prices likewise continued to rise, with inflation reaching 45 percent in October from 41.3 percent in September.

Cereals and cereal products recorded 13.7 percent inflation, up from 8.6 percent in September.

Vegetables, tubers and other related products posted an even steeper increase, with inflation reaching 40.4 percent.

Fruits and nuts also recorded 31.3 percent inflation.

Inflation not only measures the general increase in the prices of essential goods and commodities but it also gauges the purchasing power of the peso.

With inflation acceleration, prices in the province of Cebu, based on the PSA's October 2026 Consumer Price Index (CPI), have increased by 38.9 percent compared with the 2018 base year, when the index was set at 100.

The province recorded a CPI of 138.9 in October, meaning a basket of goods and services that cost ₱100 in 2018 would now require approximately ₱138.90.

Conversely, the purchasing power of ₱100 has fallen to about ₱72, illustrating how much less consumers can buy with the same amount of money compared with eight years ago.

The PSA uses the CPI to measure changes in the average retail prices of a fixed basket of goods and services commonly purchased by households.

The purchasing power of the peso is computed by taking the reciprocal of the CPI and multiplying it by 100.(RBE)