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. City of Mandaue

1. Headline Inflation

The headline inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Mandaue recorded a slower annual increase at 0.6 percent in March 2025 from 0.7 percent in February 2025. In March 2024, the inflation rate was recorded at 10.5 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)

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

The main drivers to the downtrend of headline inflation rate during the month were mainly brought by the slower year-on-year increases of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 1.0 percent, and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 0.1 percent from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 1.3 percent and 0.2 percent. Also contributed to the downtrend was the faster annual decrease of transport index at 0.7 percent during the month from an annual drop of 0.2 percent in the previous month. (Table 3)

On the other hand, faster annual increments were noted in the indices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 1.0 percent; health at 2.4 percent; and personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 1.4 percent during the month from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 0.5 percent, 1.9 percent, and 1.2 percent.

The commodity groups that remained their previous month’s inflation rates were clothing and footwear at 1.4 percent; furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 0.7 percent; and recreation, sport and culture at 0.2 percent.

While, information and communication, education services, restaurants and accommodation services, and financial services posted no price movement during the month.

1.2 Main Contributors to the Headline Inflation

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

a) Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 80.9 percent share or 0.5 percentage point;
b) Health with 9.1 percent share or 0.1 percentage point; and
c) Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services with 4.6 percent share or 0.03 percentage point.

2. Food Inflation

The food inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Mandaue posted slower annual growth rate at 0.9 percent in March 2025 from 1.3 percent in February 2025. In March 2024, the food inflation stood at 8.6 percent. (Table 7)

2.1 Main Drivers to the Downtrend of Food Inflation

The downtrend of food inflation in March 2025 was primarily driven by the faster annual decrease of rice index at 6.1 percent from an annual drop of 4.8 percent in February 2025.  Also contributed to the downtrend inflation in the city was fish and other seafood which posted a slower annual increment at 4.7 percent during the month from 6.7 percent in the previous month. (Table 5)

In addition, slower annual increases were recorded in the indices of meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 5.5 percent; fruits and nuts at 1.5 percent; and ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 2.2 percent during the month from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 5.7 percent, 1.8 percent, and 2.4 percent.

In contrast, faster annual increases were recorded in the indices of corn at 9.8 percent; and vegetables, tubers, plantains, bananas and pulses at 15.3 percent during the month from their respective inflation rates at 8.0 percent and 9.9 percent in the previous month. Slower annual decreases were noted in the indices of milk, other dairy products and eggs at 0.3 percent; and sugar, confectionery and desserts at 2.4 percent from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 0.5 percent and 4.0 percent annual decreases. (Table 5)

Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products and other cereals food group retained its previous month’s inflation rate at 0.6 percent, while oils and fats posted a no price movement during the month. (Table 5)

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 67.7 percent share or 0.4 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. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with 111.9 percent share or 1.0 percentage point;
b. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with 106.5 percent share or 1.0 percentage point; and
c. Fish and other seafood with 85.5 percent share or 0.8 percentage point.
 

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

Approved by:

MELCHOR B. BAUTISTA
Chief Statistical Specialist

RYN/KST