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. Province of Cebu

1. Headline Inflation

The headline inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the Province of Cebu recorded a faster annual growth rate at 3.7 percent in February 2025 from to 3.5 percent in January 2025. In February 2024, the inflation was posted at 0.8 percent annual decline. (Table A and Figure 1)

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

The main driver to the uptrend of headline inflation in February 2025 for bottom 30% income households was mainly influenced by the faster year-on-year increment in the transport index at 19.0 percent from 11.4 percent in January 2025. (Table 3)

On the contrary, slower annual increases were observed in the indices of the following commodity groups during the month:

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages, 4.3 percent from 4.6 percent;
b. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 2.1 percent from 2.6 percent;
c. Clothing and footwear, 0.7 percent from 0.8 percent;
d. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 0.7 percent from 0.8 percent; 
e. Health, 1.5 percent from 1.7 percent;
f. Recreation, sport and culture, 3.7 percent from 4.2 percent; and
g. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 2.3 percent from 2.5 percent.

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

a. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 1.1 percent;
b. Information and communication, 0.0 percent;
c. Education services, 9.2 percent;
d. Restaurants and accommodation services, 0.0 percent; and
e. Financial services, 0.0 percent.

1.2    Main Contributors to the Headline Inflation

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

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 57.5 percent share or 2.1 percentage points;
b. Transport with 29.8 percent share or 1.1 percentage points; and
c. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with 3.1 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 slower annual growth rate at 4.4 percent in February 2025 from 4.7 percent in January 2025. In February 2024, the food inflation rate was recorded at 3.5 percent annual decline. 
(Table 7)

2.1    Main Drivers to the Downtrend of Food Inflation

The main drivers to the downtrend of food inflation in February 2025 were mainly brought by the slower year-on-year increments in the indices of corn at 15.4 percent, fruits and nuts at 8.4 percent from their respective previous month’s inflation rates at 19.6 percent, and 13.2 percent. Rice index which posted faster annual decrease at 9.3 percent in February 2025 from an annual drop of 8.2 percent in January 2025 also contributed to the downtrend.

In addition, slower annual growth rates were observed in the indices of meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 5.8 percent, ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 2.8 percent, and flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products and other cereals at 0.5 percent during the month from their respective inflation rates at 6.3 percent, 4.0 percent, and 1.1 percent in the previous month. (Table 5)

On the other hand, indices that recorded faster annual increments during the month were fish and other seafood at 7.2 percent, and vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 8.3 percent from their respective previous month’s inflation rates at 3.7 percent, and 5.6 percent. (Table 5)

Slower annual decrements were noted in the indices of milk, other dairy products and eggs at 1.2 percent, and sugar, confectionery and desserts at 7.0 percent from their respective food inflation rates of 2.7 percent and 8.4 percent annual decreases in the previous month.

Oils and fats remained its previous month’s inflation rate at 0.0 percent or no price movement.

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 54.3 percent share or 2.0 percentage points 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. Cereals and cereal products, which includes rice, corn, flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals with 37.2 percent share or 1.6 percentage points;
b. Fish and other seafood with 30.2 percent share or 1.3 percentage points; and
c. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with 16.5 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 – February 2025
(2018=100)

Approved by:

MELCHOR B. BAUTISTA
Chief Statistical Specialist

MJG/KST