Public concern over inflation, affordable food eased in Q2 2025 —OCTA

Fewer Filipinos expressed concern over inflation and access to affordable food and wages during the second quarter of the year, according to the latest data from OCTA Research released on Wednesday. 

In its July Tugon ng Masa (TNM) survey, OCTA Research reported that public concern over issues sharply declined in the second quarter of 2025, with half or 50% of Filipino adults citing inflation as the most urgent national concern in the country.

Concern for affordable food likewise declined by 10 percentage points or 41% to 31%, and improving wages by 11 percentage points or 36% to 26%. 

“These declines may indicate a notable easing of economic anxieties,” the poll firm said.

“While inflation, food affordability, and wages remain among the top national concerns, the sharp decreases point to a changing public mood—where Filipinos may feel some relief, even if cautiously, compared to the heightened urgency observed earlier in the year,” it added. 

Other urgent national concerns included job creation (26%) and reducing poverty (23%). 

The OCTA Research conducted the face-to-face survey with 1,200 Filipino adults from July 12 to July 17, 2025. It has a ±3% margin of error at a 95% confidence level.

Personal concern

Likewise, the TNM survey indicated a easing of the most urgent personal concern of adult Filipinos. The majority or 63% of Filipinos identified staying healthy and avoiding illnesses as their top concern — down by 7 percentage points from 70% in April to 63% in July. 

Concerns about having enough to eat every day also reduced by 4 percentage points from 51% to 47%. Meanwhile, concerns about finishing schooling or being able to provide schooling for their children remained relatively stable, edging up slightly from 45% in April to 46% in July 2025. 

“Taken together, these shifts suggest that some households may be experiencing modest improvements in day-to-day conditions. However, the continued prominence of health, food security, and education underscores that these remain core vulnerabilities requiring sustained attention,” the survey added. —LDF, GMA Integrated News