The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) confirmed that retail and farmgate prices of rice surged in September 2023.
The PSA released statistical tables Friday showing that the average farmgate prices of palay (dry) in the Philippines in September 2023 climbed 16.6 percent in September to P19.90 per kilogram from 17.06 in the same month last year. It was also higher by 10.2 percent from P17.06 in August.
It was recorded highest at P22.67 per kg. in Ilocos Region.
Meanwhile, the PSA reported that at the national level, a kilogram of regular milled rice retailed at 48.14 during the first phase of September 2023 (Sept. 1 to 5, 2023).
“Compared with its average retail price of P45.57 per kilogram in the second phase of August 2023 (Aug. 15 to 17, 2023), it increased by 5.6 percent,” the PSA said.
It also observed an increment of 16.8 percent in the average retail price per kilogram of regular milled rice from P41.23 per kilogram in the first phase of August 2023 (Aug. 1 to 5, 2023).
Among the regions, Zamboanga Peninsula reported the highest average retail price of regular milled rice at P53.42 per kilogram, while the lowest average retail price was registered in Western Visayas at P43.18 per kilogram during the first phase of September 2023.
The PSA also noted an increase in retail prices of tomato (up 25.8 percent), mango (5.4 percent) and galunggong (2.7 percent) and a decrease in retail prices of red onion (down 3.8 percent) and beef (0.2 percent) in September.