{
  "id": 18249995,
  "title": "Fuel, transport costs push inflation to 7.8% in October 2026",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/fuel-transport-costs-push-inflation-to-7-8-in-october-2026",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-11-05T03:31:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Philippine Star Business",
    "slug": "philippine-star-business",
    "url": "https://www.philstar.com/business/2026/11/05/2568051/fuel-transport-costs-push-inflation-78-october-2026"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Inflation in the Philippines surged to 7.8% in October, the highest rate since February 2023, as per the Philippine Statistics Authority's November 5 report. Transport costs, specifically a jump in fuel prices, were the main drivers behind this uptrend, causing the index to climb to 20.1% from 14.6% in September. Housing, water, electricity, and gas expenses also rose, reaching 9.3% from 8.4% in the prior month. Food inflation modestly decreased to 6.4% from 6.8%, as the rates of fish and vegetable inflation slowed. However, rice and corn prices saw quicker increases, with inflation rising to 20.7% from 20.3% and 19.3% from 17.3%, respectively. While core inflation, which excludes fluctuating food and energy costs, climbed to 5.4%, it still indicates persistent price pressures affecting the nation's economy. The value of the peso has been declining since January, with a single peso only worth P0.68 in September 2026 compared to its 2018 base value. As long as inflation stays above the central bank's 3% target, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP) anticipates the country will remain in a tightening cycle. The central bank recently increased its key policy rate by 50 basis points to 5.5% in October, a total of 125 basis points this year. The next BSP meeting is scheduled for December 17, with the release of its final monetary policy report on December 23.",
  "summary": "The PSA reported that headline inflation accelerated to 7.8% in October, marking the highest figure since February 2023, when it reached 8.6%.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 7,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Joy Business",
        "title": "October 2026 inflation rises to 5.5%, indicating a third consecutive increase",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/october-2026-inflation-rises-to-5-5-indicating-a-third-consecutive",
        "published": "2026-11-04T12:19:44.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "3News",
        "title": "October 2026 inflation rises to 5.5%",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/october-2026-inflation-rises-to-5-5",
        "published": "2026-11-04T16:32:43.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Rio Times",
        "title": "Ghana Inflation Rises to 5.5% in October",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/04/ghana-inflation-rises-to-5-5-in-october",
        "published": "2026-11-04T20:42:47.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Philippine annual inflation at 7.8pct in October",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/philippine-annual-inflation-at-7-8pct-in-october",
        "published": "2026-11-05T00:17:03.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "GBC Ghana",
        "title": "Ghana’s inflation rises to 5.5% in October, third consecutive increase",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/ghanas-inflation-rises-to-5-5-in-october-third-consecutive-increase",
        "published": "2026-11-05T06:13:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Ghanaian Times",
        "title": "Inflation rises marginally to 5.5% in October",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/11/05/inflation-rises-marginally-to-5-5-in-october",
        "published": "2026-11-05T06:26:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}