Table A. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates
for the Bottom 30% Income Households, All Items
In Percent
(2018=100)

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. Province of Cebu

1. Headline Inflation

The headline inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the Province of Cebu posted a faster annual growth rate at 4.0 percent in March 2025 from 3.7 percent in February 2025.  In March 2024, it was posted at 0.3 percent annual decline. (Table A and Figure 1)

1.1 Main Drivers to the Upward Trend of Headline Inflation in the Province of Cebu

The uptrend of headline inflation in March 2025 for the bottom 30% income households was mainly influenced by the faster year-on-year increment in food and non-alcoholic beverages index at 5.1 percent from 4.3 percent in February 2025. Other commodity groups that posted faster annual increases were health at 1.6 percent; and personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 2.4 percent during the month from their respective inflation rates at 1.5 percent and 2.3 percent in the previous month. (Table 3)

On the contrary, slower annual increases were observed in the indices of the following commodity groups during the month:

a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 1.2 percent from 2.1 percent;
b. Clothing and footwear, 0.5 percent from 0.7 percent;
c. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 0.3 percent from 0.7 percent; 
d. Transport, 17.4 percent from 19.0 percent; and
e. Recreation, sport and culture, 3.2 percent from 3.7 percent.

The commodity groups that retained their previous month’s inflation rates were furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 1.1 percent; and education services at 9.2 percent.

Information and communication, restaurants and accommodation services, and financial services posted no price movement during the month.

1.2 Main Contributors to the Headline Inflation

The top three commodity groups that contributed to the March 2025 overall inflation for the bottom 30% income households in the Province of Cebu were as follows:

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 67.7 percent share or 2.7 percentage points;
b. Transport with 23.1 percent share or 0.9 percentage point; and
c. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services with 2.9 percent share or 0.1 percentage point.

2. Food Inflation

Food inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the Province of Cebu posted a faster annual growth rate at 5.3 percent in March 2025 from 4.4 percent in February 2025. In March 2024, the food inflation rate was recorded at 2.8 percent annual decline. (Table 7)

2.1    Main Drivers to the Upward Trend of Food Inflation

The main drivers to the uptrend of food inflation in March 2025 were mainly brought by the faster year-on-year increments in the indices of fish and other seafood at 11.2 percent; vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 17.0 percent; and meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 6.7 percent from their previous month’s respective inflation rates a 7.2 percent, 8.3 percent, and 5.8 percent. In addition, fruits and nuts posted a faster annual growth rate at 8.5 percent during the month from 8.4 percent in the previous month.  (Table 5)

Slower annual decrements were recorded in the indices of sugar, confectionery and desserts at 2.8 percent, and milk, other dairy products and eggs at 0.2 percent in March 2025 from their respective inflation rates at 7.0 percent and 1.2 percent annual decreases in the previous month.

On the other hand, indices that posted slower annual increases were corn at 13.7 percent; flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products and other cereals at 0.4 percent, and ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 2.0 percent during the month from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 15.4 percent, 0.5 percent, and 2.8 percent. Rice food group recorded a faster annual decrease at 11.1 percent in March 2025 from an annual drop of 9.3 percent in the previous month. (Table 5)

Oils and fats posted no price movement during the month.

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 66.4 percent share or 2.7 percentage points 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 37.2 percent share or 2.0 percentage points;
b. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with 24.3 percent share or 1.3 percentage points; and
c. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with 16.9 percent share or 0.9 percentage point.

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

Approved by:

MELCHOR B. BAUTISTA
Chief Statistical Specialist

RYN/KST