January 2025 Siquijor rate of inflation remained at 1.3 percent. 

1. Philippines

   The Philippines’ headline inflation or overall inflation decreased to 2.1 percent in February 2025 from 2.9 percent in January 2025. Inflation in February 2024 was posted at 3.4 percent. (Table A)

   The downtrend in the overall inflation in February 2025 was primarily influenced by the slower annual increment in the index of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 2.6 percent from 3.8 percent. The slower annual increment of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 1.6 percent from 2.2 percent also contributed. Lastly, the index of transport slowed down at -0.2 percent from 1.1 percent contributing further to the decline of overall inflation.

2. Central Visayas

   Inflation in Central Visayas remained at 2.5 percent in February 2025. The regional year to date inflation is recorded at 2.5 percent. In February 2024, inflation rate was higher at 2.7 percent.

   For the month of February 2025, two (2) provinces in Region VII recorded an increase in inflation rate while two (2) provinces recorded a decrease inflation rate. Bohol and Cebu recorded an increase in inflation rate to 2.9 percent and 3.5 percent from 2.7 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, Negros Oriental and Siquijor province recorded a decrease in inflation rate of 0.2 percent and 1.2 percent from 1.0 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively.

3. Province of Siquijor

   1. Headline Inflation

      The headline inflation at the provincial level in February 2025 declined to 1.2 percent. The year-to-date inflation of the province for 2025 is at 1.2 percent. Comparing to the inflation in February 2024, Siquijor’s inflation rate was still higher at 4.0 percent. (Table A & B and Figure 1)

      

       

      

       

      1.1 Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of the Inflation

      The downward trend of the headline inflation for the month of February was primarily brought by the decrease in the index of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 1.4 percent from 1.9 percent. Second is the slower annual increment of transport at -3.9 percent from -3.5 percent. Third, is the slower index of clothing and footwear at 0.3 percent from 1.0 percent.

      Additionally, the following commodity groups recorded a decrease in inflation rate compared to its previous months rate:

      1. Personal Care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 2.1 percent from 2.5 percent;
      2. Health, 1.9 percent from 2.1 percent; and
      3. Recreation, Sport and Culture, 1.1 percent from 1.3 percent. (Table 3 and 4)

       

      On the other hand, two (2) commodity groups recorded an increase in inflation rate compared to its previous months rate which is the index of alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 2.0 percent from 1.9 percent and furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 2.5 percent from 0.3 percent. (Table 3 and 4)

      Moreover, five (5) commodity groups recorded a constant inflation rate:

      1. Food and non-alcoholic beverages at 2.1 percent;
      2. Information and communication at 0.2 percent;
      3. Education Services at 0.5 percent;
      4. Restaurant and Accommodation Services at 1.2 percent;
      5. Financial Services at 0.0 percent. (Table 3 and 4)

       

      1.2 Main Contributors to the Headline Inflation

      The top three main contributors to the February 2025 overall inflation of 1.2 percent in the province were the following:

      1. Food and Non-alcoholic beverages with 76.3 percent share or 0.92 percentage point;
      2. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with 25.0 percent share or 0.30 percentage point; and
      3. Furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance with 8.8 percent share or 0.11 percentage point.

       

   2. Food Inflation

      The food inflation at the provincial level retained its previous month’s rate at 2.2 percent. In February 2024, food inflation was higher at 3.5 percent. (Table 6 & 7)

      Among the eleven (11) food groups, four (4) food groups recorded an increase in inflation rate:

      1. Fish and other seafood at 9.3 percent from 7.0 percent;
      2. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 6.3 percent from 3.5 percent;
      3. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 3.4 percent from 0.4 percent;
      4. Ready-made food and other food products at 5.1 percent from 4.9 percent. (Table 5)

       

      On the other hand, six (6) food groups recorded a decrease in its inflation rate:

      1. Fruits and nuts at 12.5 percent from 14.3 percent;
      2. Milk, other dairy products and eggs at 0.5 percent and 1.0 percent;
      3. Sugar, confectionery and desserts at -1.9 percent from -0.6 percent;
      4. Corn at -7.7 percent from -4.3 percent;
      5. Rice at -6.5 percent from -3.0 percent;
      6. Flour, Bread and Other Bakery Products, Pasta Products and Other Cereals at 1.3 percent from 2.5 percent. (Table 5)

       

      Moreover, only one (1) food group retained its previous months rate which is the index of Oils and Fats with 0.1 percent inflation. (Table 5)

      2.1 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

      In February 2025, food shared at the provincial level of 74.3 percent or 0.89 percentage points to the overall inflation. The main food items contributing to the February 2025 overall food inflation were the following:

      1. Fish and other seafood with 107.2 percent share or 2.36 percentage points;
      2. Fruits and nuts with 43.1 percent share or 0.95 percentage points; and
      3. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with 36.5 percent share or 0.80 percentage point.

       

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

The CPI is an indicator of the change in the average retail prices of a fixed basket of goods and services commonly purchased by households relative to a base year.

Uses of CPI

• The CPI is most widely used in the calculation of the inflation rate and purchasing power of peso. It is a major statistical series used for economic analysis and as monitoring indicator of the government economic policy.
• Measures the composite change in the consumer prices in various commodities overtime.

Computation of CPI

The computation of CPI involves consideration of the following important points:

1. Base Period – The reference date or base period is the benchmark or reference date or period at which the index is taken as equal to 100.
2. Market Basket – A sample of the thousands of varieties of goods purchased for consumption and the services availed by the households in the country selected to represent the composite price behavior of all goods and services purchased by consumers.
3. Weighting System - The weighting pattern uses the expenditures on various consumer items purchased by households as a proportion to total expenditure.
4. Formula - The formula used in computing the CPI is the weighted arithmetic mean of price relatives, the Laspeyre’s formula with a fixed base year period (2018) weights.
5. Geographic Coverage – CPI values are computed at the national, regional, and provincial levels, and or selected cities.

Inflation Rate

The inflation rate is the annual rate of change, or the year-on-year change of CPI expressed in percent. Inflation is interpreted in terms of declining purchasing power of money.

***Statistical tables in excel file are provided as an attachment of this release.

(SGD) JOSELITO C. MAGHANOY
(Supervising Statistical Specialist)/
Officer-in-Charge