Rising costs of essential goods have forced consumers to adjust their household spending, with some residents reporting a 33% increase in their weekly market budgets to keep up with inflation, as reported by RH Boy Gonzales.

‘JR Reyes’, a resident of Tondo and a regular shopper at the Blumentritt Market, shared that his typical weekly budget has surged to ₱2,000, up from his previous allocation of ₱1,500.

Reyes, who manages a tight schedule working Monday through Friday—and occasionally on Saturdays—prefers to do his marketing once a week to save on time and transportation costs.

Drivers of Inflation

Reyes noted that while his family makes a conscious effort to save, external economic factors have made it difficult to maintain their old budget. He specifically cited the rising prices of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) and fuel as the primary catalysts for the price hikes in basic commodities.

"Pang isang linggo na ito. Tumaas ako ng budget dahil kahit papaano, ramdam yung pagtaas na presyo ng mga bilihin. Sa 2,000 ko nga ngayon, ang natira na lang 70 pesos,” Reyes said.

Despite the tighter margins, Reyes managed to secure a variety of proteins for his family. His recent market haul included: poultry and meat, seafood including tilapia, milkfish (bangus), catfish (hito), jack fish (talakitok), and one pompano.

He also mentioned that he was able to buy one tray of large eggs purchased for ₱250 within his budget.

Notably, the ₱2,000 budget does not include rice, which remains a separate expense for the household.

Accoridng to Reyes he frequent shops at the Blumentritt Market, noting that prices there remain more affordable compared to other areas.

While he expressed concern over the dwindling value of the peso, he remarked that as of his last visit, some products have yet to see drastic increases, allowing him to still purchase a complete week's worth of viands for his family.