The third quarter SWS survey conducted from September 24 to 30 shows that 50 percent or 14.2 million Filipino families said they were poor.

The SWS noted that the self-rated poor families in September is one percentage point higher than the 49 percent in June which is equivalent to 13.7 million families.

"The one-point rise in the nationwide Self-Rated Poverty between June 2025 and September 2025 was due to increases in Metro Manila and Balance Luzon (or Luzon outside Metro Manila), combined with a decline in the Visayas and a steady percentage in Mindanao," it stated.

The September survey also found 41 percent of Filipino families rating themselves as food-poor based on the type of food consumed by their families.

However, 11 percent rated themselves as food borderline (by placing themselves on the line dividing food-poor and not food-poor), and 47 percent rating themselves not food-poor.

The survey said that September percentage of self-rated food poor families of 41 percent was unchanged since April.

"This was the lowest since 33 percent in March 2024 and was three points below the 2024 annual average of 44 percent," it stated.

In a press statement on Thursday, the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas projects that October inflation will settle within the range of 1.4 to 2.2 percent."

"Upward price pressures for the month may stem from higher prices of rice, fish, vegetables, and electricity, as well as the depreciation of the peso. These pressures could be partially offset by lower prices of oil, meat, and fruits," it stated. Robina Asido/DMS