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

Following the trend at the national level, inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in Central Visayas slowed down to 1.7 percent in February 2025 from 1.9 percent in January 2025.  In February 2024, inflation rate in the region stood at 2.8 percent. (Table A)

C. City of Lapu-Lapu

1. Headline Inflation

The headline inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Lapu-Lapu posted a slower annual growth rate at 1.5 percent in February 2025 from 1.7 percent in January 2025. In February 2024, the inflation rate was recorded at 6.8 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)

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

The main drivers to the downtrend of headline inflation in February 2025 for bottom 30% income households were mainly brought by the slower year-on-year increases in the indices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 3.6 percent, restaurants and accommodation services at 0.6 percent, and clothing and footwear at 0.2 percent from their respective inflation rates at 4.5 percent, 1.1 percent, and 2.8 percent in the previous month.  (Table 3)

Moreover, other commodity groups that posted slower annual increments during the month were recreation, sport and culture at 7.6 percent, alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 1.8 percent, and health at 2.3 percent from their respective inflation rates at 9.2 percent, 2.2 percent, and 2.5 percent in the previous month. Transport index posted a faster annual decrease at 0.2 percent during the month from 0.1 percent annual increase in the previous month.

On the other hand, the indices that posted faster annual increments during the month were food and non-alcoholic beverages at 1.0 percent, and personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 3.1 percent from their respective previous month’s inflation rates at 0.8 percent, and 2.6 percent.

The commodity groups that retained their previous month’s inflation rates were the following:

a. Furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance, 1.1 percent;
b. Information and communication, 0.2 percent; 
c. Education services, 2.4 percent; and
d. Financial services, 0.0 percent.

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 Lapu-Lapu:

a) Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with 43.7 percent share or 0.7 percentage point;    
b) Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 33.6 percent share or 0.5   percentage point; 
c) Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services with 10.5 percent share or 0.2 percentage point.

2. Food Inflation

Food inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Lapu-Lapu posted a faster annual increase at 0.9 percent in February 2025 from 0.6 percent in January 2025. In February 2024, food inflation rate stood at 5.9 percent.  (Table 7)

2.1    Main Drivers to the Uptrend of Food Inflation

The uptrend of food inflation during the month were primarily driven by the faster year-on-year increases in the indices of vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 4.3 percent, and fish and other seafood at 11.4 percent from their respective food inflation rates at 2.5 percent annual decline and 10.6 percent annual increase in the previous month. In addition, corn index posted a faster annual increment at 5.8 percent during the month from 1.1 percent in the previous month. (Table 5)

In contrast, slower annual increments were recorded in the indices of flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products and other cereals at 0.7 percent, meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 2.5 percent, fruits and nuts at 5.1 percent, and ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 4.3 percent in February 2025 from their respective food inflation rates at 0.9 percent, 2.7 percent, 11.2 percent, and 5.4 percent in the previous month.

Faster annual decrements were observed in the food groups of rice at 8.0 percent, milk, other dairy products and eggs at 1.1 percent, and sugar, confectionery and desserts at 3.6 percent during the month from their respective food inflation rates at 6.8 percent, 0.9 percent, and 2.7 percent annual decreases in the previous month.

While, oils and fats retained its previous month’s inflation at 0.1 percent annual decline.

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 26.5 percent share or 0.4 percentage point 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 250.9 percent share or 2.3 percentage points;
b. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with 46.5 percent share or 0.4 percentage point; and
c. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with 33.9 percent share or 0.3 percentage point.
 

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

Approved by:

MELCHOR B. BAUTISTA
Chief Statistical Specialist

MJG/KST