“Even a slight increase in wholesale prices reveals how vulnerable micro-retailers are to cost shifts upstream. This creates a ripple effect, especially in low-income communities where these stores are the primary source of daily essentials,” said Packworks Chief Data Officer Andoy Montiel.
WHILE THE GOVERNMENT continues to boast of lower inflation in the past months, sari-sari store buyers struggle with high prices.
This is the result of an analysis of data gathered by Filipino tech startup Packworks, analyzing more than one million monthly sales transactions from its network of over 300,000 sari-sari stores nationwide through its mobile app and business intelligence tool, Sari IQ.
Sari-sari stores serve as the primary source of daily essentials for around 94 percent of Filipinos.
Packworks Chief Data Officer Andoy Montiel highlighted the vulnerability of sari-sari stores, saying even a slight increase in their wholesale purchase price can directly affect end consumer pricing.
“Sari-sari stores are known for their thin profit margins. While they operate as viable businesses, they also serve as extended pantries and community hubs for their neighbors. Even a slight increase in wholesale prices reveals how vulnerable micro-retailers are to cost shifts upstream. This creates a ripple effect, especially in low-income communities where these stores are the primary source of daily essentials,” Montiel said.
Tracking price movements across multiple product categories from 2023 to 2025, it showed that some product categories recorded average price increases of at least 11 percent across various regions nationwide.
KEY FINDINGS
Key findings include significant retail price increases across the board for items like baby oil and baby powder. Notably, a 50-milliliter (ml) bottle of Johnson’s regular baby oil increased by 17 percent, from P42.00 in 2023 to P49.00 in 2025.
Furthermore, a 100-gram pack of Tender Care baby powder rose by 25 percent, from P40.00 to P50.00. These price hikes were observed in at least five regions: Ilocos Region (Region I), Cagayan Valley (Region II), Central Luzon (Region III), MIMAROPA (Region IV-B), and Bicol Region (Region V).
The study also found that 11 different stock keeping units (SKUs) within the confectionery and snacks category experienced at least a 13-percent increase in retail price. For example, the 50-gram pack of Lala Fish Crackers Classic, a popular and usually affordable sari-sari store snack, saw its price surge by 27 percent, rising from P18.00 in 2023 to P23.00 today. These spikes were recorded in stores based in Regions II and IV-B.
