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 1.5 percent in February 2025 from 2.4 percent in January 2025. In February 2024, the inflation rate was posted at 4.2 percent. (Table A)

B. Central Visayas

1. Regional Inflation

Inflation for the bottom 30% income households in Central Visayas decreased to1.7 percent in February 2025 from 1.9 percent in January 2025. In February 2024, inflation rate was recorded at 2.8 percent. (Table A)

C. City of Cebu

1. Headline Inflation

The headline inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Cebu had a slower increase of 2.3 percent in February 2025 from 2.7 percent in January 2025. In February 2024, the inflation rate stood at 3.7 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)

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

The main source to the downward trend of the headline inflation rate for this income group in February 2025 was mainly brought by the no price movement of restaurants and accommodation services from 1.0 percent in January 2025. Also contributing to the downtrend were the slower year-on-year increments of personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 1.6 percent and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 3.8 percent in February 2025 from their previous month’s respective inflation rates 3.8 percent and 4.3 percent. (Table 4)

In addition, slower annual increases were also recorded in the indices of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 3.2 percent and recreation, sport and culture at 0.2 percent from their previous month’s respective inflation rates 3.3 percent and 0.5 percent. (Table 4)

Faster year-on-year decrement was noted in transport at 0.7 percent in February 2025 from 0.4 percent annual drop in January 2025. (Table 4)

On the other hand, faster annual increases were posted in the indices of alcoholic beverage and tobacco at 0.8 percent and clothing and footwear at 2.6 percent from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 0.7 percent and 1.6 percent. (Table 4)

Moreover, the indices of furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, health, and education services retained their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 1.8 percent, 1.4 percent and 2.3 percent. (Table 4)

Meanwhile, the indices with no price movement were information and communication, and financial services. (Table 4)

1.2    Main Contributors to the Headline Inflation

The following commodity groups were the top three contributors to the February 2025 overall inflation for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Cebu:

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 61.9 percent share or 1.4 percentage points;
b. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with 32.2 percent share or 0.7 percentage point; and
c. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services with 3.2 percent share or 0.1 percentage point.

2. Food Inflation

Food inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Cebu had a slower annual increase of 3.3 percent in February 2025 from 3.5 percent in January 2025. In February 2024, the food inflation stood at 5.9 percent. (Table 7)

2.1 Main Drivers to the Downtrend of Food Inflation

The downtrend in the food inflation in February 2025 was primarily driven by the faster year-on-year decrease of rice at 5.7 percent from 2.9 percent annual drop in the previous month. Also contributed to the downtrend of the city’s food inflation were the slower annual increments of meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 6.7 percent and fish and other seafood at 8.4 percent from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 7.8 percent and 9.1 percent. (Table 5)

In addition, slower annual increases were recorded in the indices of fruits and nuts at 2.1 percent and ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 3.4 percent from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 3.1 percent and 3.9 percent while sugar, confectionary and desserts had a faster annual decrease of 3.3 percent February 2025 from 3.2 percent annual drop in January 2025. (Table 5)

In contrast, faster annual increments were posted in the following food groups in February 2025:

a. Corn, 52.9 percent from 27.0 percent;
b. Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals, 0.9 percent from 0.8 percent; and
c. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, 19.2 percent from 12.7 percent. (Table 5)

Milk, other dairy products and eggs recorded a slower annual decrease of 0.2 percent in February 2025 from 0.9 percent annual decline in the previous month. (Table 5)

Meanwhile, oils and fats retained its previous month’s inflation rate at 2.3 percent annual drop. (Table 5)

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 57.6 percent share or 1.3 percentage points to the February 2025 overall inflation for this particular 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 40.9 percent share or 1.4 percentage points;
b. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with 33.6 percent share or 1.1 percentage points; and
c. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with 33.2 percent share or 1.1 percentage points.
 

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

Approved by:

MELCHOR B. BAUTISTA
Chief Statistical Specialist

KST/MJG