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 2.4 percent in January 2025 from 2.5 percent in December 2024. In January 2024, the inflation rate was posted at 3.6 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 1.9 percent in January 2025 from 2.5 percent in December 2024.  In January 2024, inflation rate in the region was higher which posted at 2.8 percent. (Table A)

C. Province of Cebu

1. Headline Inflation

The headline inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the Province of Cebu slowed down to 3.5 percent in January 2025 from 3.6 percent in December 2024. In January 2024, inflation rate was recorded at 0.9 percent annual decline. 
(Table A and Figure 1)

1.1 Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of Headline Inflation in the Province of Cebu

The main drivers to the downtrend of headline inflation in January 2025 for bottom 30% income households were mainly influenced by the slower year-on-year increments in the indices of transport at 11.4 percent and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 0.8 percent from their respective inflation rates at 22.7 percent and 1.5 percent in the previous month. (Table 3)

In addition, slower annual increases were posted in the indices of health at 1.5 percent, and recreation, sport and culture at 4.2 percent during the month from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 3.4 percent and 5.2 percent.

On the contrary, faster annual increase was observed in food and non-alcoholic beverages at 4.6 percent during the month from 3.4 percent in the previous month.

The commodity groups that retained their previous month’s inflation rates were as follows:

a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 2.6 percent;
b. Clothing and footwear, 0.8 percent;
c. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 1.1 percent;
d. Information and communication, 0.0 percent;
e. Education services, 9.2 percent;
f. Restaurants and accommodation services,  0.0 percent;
g. Financial services, 0.0 percent; and
h. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 2.5 percent.

1.2    Main Contributors to the Headline Inflation

The top three commodity groups that contributed to the January 2025 overall inflation for the bottom 30% income households in the Province of Cebu were as follows:

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 65.9 percent share or 2.3 percentage points;
b. Transport with 19.1 percent share or 0.7 percentage point; and
c. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with 3.9 percent share or 0.1 percentage point.

2. Food Inflation

Food inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the Province of Cebu posted a faster annual growth rate at 4.7 percent in January 2025 from to 3.4 percent in December 2024. In January 2024, food inflation was lower which stood at 4.3 percent annual decline. (Table 7)

2.1    Main Drivers to the Uptrend of Food Inflation

The main drivers to the uptrend of food inflation in January 2025 were mainly brought by the faster year-on-year increments in the indices of fish and other seafood at 3.7 percent, and vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 5.6 percent from their respective food inflation rates at 1.2 percent and 0.4 percent annual decreases. Also contributed to the uptrend was meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 6.3 percent during the month from 5.4 percent in the previous month (Table 5)

In addition, faster annual increases were observed in the indices of ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 4.0 percent, fruits and nuts at 13.2 percent, and corn at 19.6 percent during the month from their respective food inflation rates at 2.7 percent, 12.2 percent and 17.3 percent in the previous month.

On the other hand, flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals posted a slower annual increment at 1.1 percent, and oils and fats posted no price movement during the month from their respective food inflation rates at 2.6 percent and 0.1 percent in the previous month. (Table 5)

Faster annual decrements were noted in the indices of rice at 8.2 percent and milk, other dairy products and eggs at 2.7 percent in January 2025 from their respective food inflation rates at 6.4 percent annual decline and 2.5 percent annual increase in the previous month.
Sugar, confectionery and desserts retained its previous month’s inflation rate at 8.4 percent annual decline.

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 62.3 percent share or 2.2 percentage points to the January 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. Cereals and cereal products, which includes rice, corn, flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals with 57.0 percent share or 2.7 percentage points;
b. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with 16.6 percent share or 0.8 percentage point; and
c. Fish and other seafood with 14.3 percent share or 0.7 percentage point.

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

Approved by:

MELCHOR B. BAUTISTA
Chief Statistical Specialist

KST/MJG