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 slowed down further to 1.8 percent in March 2025 from 2.1 percent in the previous month. This brings the national average inflation rate from January to March 2025 to 2.2 percent. The inflation rate in March 2024 was higher at 3.7 percent. (Table A)

B. Central Visayas

1.    Regional Inflation

In Central Visayas, the headline inflation or overall inflation in March 2025 eased to 2.4 percent from 2.5 percent in February 2025. The average inflation rate in Central Visayas from January to March 2025 was posted at 2.5 percent. In March 2024, the inflation rate was higher which stood at 3.2 percent.    (Table A)

C. City of Mandaue

1. Headline Inflation

The inflation rate in the City of Mandaue posted a slower annual increase of 1.3 percent in March 2025 from 1.5 percent in February 2025. This brings the city’s average inflation rate from January to March 2025 to 1.7 percent. In March 2024, the inflation rate in the city was recorded at 7.5 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)

1.1    Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of the Headline Inflation

The downtrend in the city’s headline inflation in March 2025 was primarily influenced by the slower year-on-year increment of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 3.0 percent from 3.3 percent in February 2025. Also contributed to the downtrend were the faster annual decrements in the indices of transport at 1.4 percent; and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 0.2 percent during the month from their respective inflation rates at 0.6 percent, and 0.1 percent annual decreases in the previous month. (Table 3)

On the other hand, faster annual growth rates were observed in the indices of alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 0.7 percent, and health at 1.3 percent in March 2025 from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 0.6 percent and 1.2 percent.    (Table 3)

The commodity groups that retained their previous month’s inflation rates were clothing and footwear at 0.8 percent; furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 7.9 percent; recreation, sport and culture at 0.2 percent; education services at 3.2 percent; and personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 0.9 percent. (Table 3)

Meanwhile, no price movements were recorded in the indices of information and communication, restaurants and accommodation services, and financial services. (Table 3)

1.2 Main Contributors to the Headline Inflation

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

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 80.0 percent share or 1.0 percentage point; 
b. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance with 17.3 percent share or 0.2 percentage point; and
c. Education services with 5.0 percent share or 0.1 percentage point.

2. Food Inflation

Food inflation in the city posted a slower annual increase at 3.2 percent in March 2025 from 3.4 percent in February 2025. In March 2024, food inflation stood at 6.8 percent.   (Table 7)

2.1 Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of Food Inflation

The deceleration of food inflation in March 2025 was mainly brought by the faster annual decrease of rice index at 2.3 percent from an annual drop of 1.0 percent in the previous month. Also contributed to the downtrend of food inflation in the city was fish and other seafood which posted a slower annual increase at 6.5 percent during the month from 7.4 percent in the previous month, (Table 5)

In addition, slower annual increases were also recorded in the indices of meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 5.7 percent; fruits and nuts at 2.6 percent; and ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 1.6 percent during the month from their respective inflation rates at 5.8 percent, 3.0 percent, and 1.7 percent. (Table 5)

On the other hand, faster annual increments were noted in the indices of corn at 9.8 percent; oils and fats at 0.3 percent; vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 15.7 percent during the month from their respective inflation rates at 8.0 percent, 0.2 percent, and 11.8 percent in the previous month. Slower annual decreases were recorded in the indices of milk, other dairy products and eggs at 0.2 percent, and sugar, confectionery and desserts at 1.8 percent in March 2025 from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 0.3 percent and 3.1 percent annual decreases. (Table 5)

Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products and other cereals retained its previous month’s inflation rate at 0.5 percent.

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

The food inflation shared 75.9 percent or 1.0 percentage point to the overall inflation in March 2025. The top three food groups in terms of contribution to the food inflation during the month were the following:

a. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, with 41.3 percent share or 1.3 percentage point; 
b. Fish and other seafood, 34.7 percent share or 1.1 percentage points; and
c. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, with 34.0 percent share or 1.1 percentage points.

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

Approved by:

MELCHOR B. BAUTISTA
Chief Statistical Specialist

RYN/KST