Starting February 2022, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) released the rebased Consumer Price Index (CPI) for all income households to base year 2018, from base year 2012 as announced in the press release number 2022-01 dated 04 January 2022. The CPI series for all income households for January 2022 onwards will be 2018-based.

Table A. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates, All Items
In Percent
(2018=100)

A. The Philippines

The Philippines’ headline inflation or overall inflation eased to 2.1 percent in February 2025 from 2.9 percent in January 2025. This brings the national average inflation from January to February 2025 to 2.5 percent. In February 2024, the inflation rate was higher at 3.4 percent. (Table A)

B. Central Visayas

1.    Regional Inflation

Headline inflation in Central Visayas retained its previous month’s inflation rate at 2.5 percent in February 2025. This brings the regional average inflation from January to February 2025 to 2.5 percent. In February 2024, the inflation rate was higher at 2.7 percent. (Table A)

C. City of Cebu

1. Headline Inflation

In February 2025, the headline inflation in City of Cebu had a slower increase of 2.2 percent from 2.4 percent in January 2025. This brings the city’s average inflation from January to February 2025 to 2.3 percent. In February 2024, the inflation rate was higher at 4.5 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)

1.1    Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of the Headline Inflation

The downtrend of the headline inflation in February 2025 was primarily influenced by the no price movement of restaurants and accommodation services from 0.9 percent in January 2025. This was followed by the slower year-on-year increase of personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 1.2 percent from 3.8 percent in January 2025. Also contributing to the downtrend was the index of transport with a faster annual decrement of 1.1 percent during the month from 0.6 percent annual drop in the previous month. (Table 3)

In addition, slower annual increments were posted in the following commodity groups during the month:

a. Health, 2.4 percent from 2.9 percent;
b. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 10.6 percent from 10.9 percent; and
c. Recreation, sport and culture, 0.5 percent from 0.8 percent. (Table 3)

In contrast, faster annual increases were recorded in the commodity groups below:

a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 1.4 percent from 1.3 percent;
b. Clothing and footwear, 1.5 percent from 0.9 percent; and
c. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 0.2 percent from no price movement. (Table 3)

Moreover, the following commodity groups retained their previous month’s inflation rate: 

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages at 4.8 percent;
b. Information and communication at 1.3 percent; and
c. Education services, 4.5 percent. (Table 3)

Meanwhile, no price movement was recorded in financial services index during the month. (Table 3)

1.2 Main Contributors to the Headline Inflation

The top three commodity groups contributing to the February 2025 headline inflation were the following:

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 71.6 percent share or 1.6 percentage points; 
b. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance with 14.0 percent share or 0.3 percentage point; and
c. Education services with 5.4 percent share or 0.1 percentage point.

2. Food Inflation

The food inflation in the City of Cebu retained its previous month’s inflation rate at 5.1 percent. In February 2024, the food inflation stood at 6.7 percent. (Table 7)

2.1 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation shared 69.3 percent or 1.5 percentage points to the overall inflation in February 2025. The top three food groups in terms of contribution to the food inflation during the month were the following:

a. Fish and other seafood, with 28.0 percent share or 1.4 percentage points; 
b. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with 26.4 percent share or 1.4 percentage points; and
c. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with 23.1 percent share or 1.2 percentage points.

Table B. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates in the City of Cebu, All Items
In Percent
January 2020 – February 2025
(2018=100)

Approved by:

MELCHOR B. BAUTISTA
Chief Statistical Specialist

KST/MJG