Table A. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates
for the Bottom 30% Income Households, All Items
In Percent

A. The Philippines

The country’s inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households slowed down to 1.1 percent in March 2025 from 1.5 percent in February 2025. In March 2024, the inflation rate was posted at 4.6 percent. (Table A)

B. Central Visayas

1. Regional Inflation

In Central Visayas, the inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in March 2025 remained at 1.7 percent, the same annual growth rate in February 2025. In March 2024, the inflation rate was recorded at 3.3 percent.  (Table A)

C. City of Lapu-Lapu

1. Headline Inflation

The headline inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Lapu-Lapu posted a slower annual growth rate at 1.1 percent in March 2025 from 1.5 percent in February 2025. In March 2024, the inflation rate was recorded at 8.6 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)

1.1    Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of Headline Inflation in the City of Lapu-Lapu

The downtrend of headline inflation in March 2025 for bottom 30% income households was mainly brought by the slower year-on-year increase in housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 1.5 percent from 3.6 percent in February 2025. Restaurants and accommodation services with no price movement during the month from 0.6 percent in the previous month; and transport at 0.9 percent annual decrease from an annual drop of 0.2 percent in the previous month also contributed to the downtrend inflation in the city. (Table 3)

Moreover, other commodity groups that posted slower annual increments during the month were personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 2.8 percent; recreation, sport and culture at 4.7 percent; and health at 2.1 percent during the from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 3.1 percent, 7.6 percent, and 2.3 percent.

On the other hand, the indices that posted faster annual increments during the month were food and non-alcoholic beverages at 1.2 percent, and alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 2.0 percent from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 1.0 percent, and 1.8 percent.

The commodity groups that retained their previous month’s inflation rates were clothing and footwear at 0.2 percent; furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 1.1 percent; information and communication at 0.2 percent; and education services at 2.4 percent.

Financial services posted a no price movement during the month.

1.2 Main Contributors to the Headline Inflation

The top three contributors to the March 2025 overall inflation for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Lapu-Lapu:

a)  Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 54.3 percent share or 0.6 percentage point;    
b) Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with 25.2 percent share or 0.3 percentage point; 
c) Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services with 14.9 percent share or 0.2 percentage point.

2. Food Inflation

The food inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Lapu-Lapu posted a faster annual increase at 1.0 percent in March 2025 from 0.9 percent in February 2025. In March 2024, it stood at 8.5 percent.  (Table 7)

2.1 Main Drivers to the Uptrend of Food Inflation

The main drivers to the uptrend of food inflation during the month were primarily driven by the faster year-on-year increases in the indices of vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 11.2 percent, fruits and nuts at 12.9 percent; and fish and other seafood at 12.9 percent during the month from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 4.3 percent, 5.1 percent, and 11.4 percent. (Table 5)

Moreover, milk, other dairy products and eggs posted a faster annual increase at 0.6 percent; sugar, confectionery and desserts with slower annual decrease of 3.4 percent; and oils and fats with no price movement during the month from their respective inflation rates at 1.1 percent, 3.6 percent, and 0.1 percent annual decreases in the previous month.

In contrast, slower annual increments were recorded during the month in the indices of flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products and other cereals at 0.5 percent, and ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 2.7 percent from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 0.7 percent and 4.3 percent. Faster annual decreases were observed in the indices of rice at 9.5 percent; and corn at 2.3 percent from their respective inflation rates at 8.0 percent annual decrease and 5.8 percent annual increase.

Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals remained its previous month’s inflation rate at 2.5 percent.

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 43.7 percent share or 0.5 percentage point to the March 2025 overall inflation for this income group.

Among the food groups, the main contributors to the food inflation during the month were the following:

a. Fish and other seafood with 204.0 percent share or 2.0 percentage points;
b. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with 60.4 percent share or 0.6 percentage point; and
c. Fruits and nuts with 36.6 percent share or 0.4 percentage point.

Table B. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates for the Bottom 30% Income Households in the City of Lapu-Lapu, All Items
In Percent
January 2019 – March 2025
(2018=100)

Approved by:

MELCHOR B. BAUTISTA
Chief Statistical Specialist

RYN/KST