Retail prices of most basic agricultural commodities in the Philippines rose in the first five days of January 2026 compared to the previous month.
The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) noted, however, that on a year-on-year basis, rice price declined, while vegetables like onions remained more expensive than in 2025.
The national average retail price for regular milled rice reached P43.39 per kilogram in the first phase of January, according to the latest price situationer report.
This represents an increase from P42.10 recorded in mid-December and P41.38 seen in early December. Despite the monthly climb, rice prices decreased from the same period in 2025, when a kilogram cost P48.50.
Protein sources and pantry staples followed a similar upward monthly trend, with dressed chicken averaging P213.88 per kilogram. This is a slight increase from P212.40 in late December and also stands higher than the P212.20 price tag seen a year ago. Tilapia prices rose to P189.22 per kilogram, marking a steady climb from P184.11 in the previous month and P178.62 in early 2025.
Vegetable prices showed mixed results, as red onions fell to P205.61 per kilogram from P231.53 in mid-December.
However, red onions remain nearly 37 percent more expensive than they were in January 2025, when they averaged P149.72.
Baguio beans also saw a sharp monthly drop to P177.72 per kilogram from P231.10 in December, but remained costlier than the P151.85 price recorded a year prior.
Cooking oil and calamansi registered notable gains as well. Cooking oil reached P197.83 per liter, up from P195.48 in late December and substantially higher than the P169.02 average in early 2025.
Calamansi prices jumped to P104.93 per kilogram, representing a 13 percent increase from the P92.52 recorded in mid-December and a 27-percent increase from the P82.32 seen in the same phase last year.
