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 eased to 2.1 percent in February 2025 from 2.9 percent in January 2025. This brings the national average inflation from January to February 2025 to 2.5 percent. In February 2024, the inflation rate was higher at 3.4 percent. (Table A)

B. Central Visayas

1. Regional Inflation

Headline inflation in Central Visayas retained its previous month’s inflation rate at 2.5 percent in February 2025. This brings the regional average inflation from January to February 2025 to 2.5 percent. In February 2024, the inflation rate was higher at 2.7 percent. (Table A)

C. City of Mandaue

1. Headline Inflation

Inflation rate City of Mandaue had a slower increase of 1.5 percent February 2025 from 2.1 percent in January 2025. This brings the city’s average inflation from January to February 2025 to 1.8 percent. In February 2024, the inflation rate in the city was higher at 6.7 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 January 2025 was primarily influenced by the slower year-on-year increment of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 3.3 percent from 4.5 percent in January 2025. This was followed by the faster annual decrease of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 0.1 percent from 0.5 percent. Also contributing to the downtrend was faster annual decrement of transport at 0.6 percent from no price movement in the previous month. (Table 3)

In addition, slower annual increments were also recorded in the following commodity groups during the month:

a. Health, 1.2 percent from 1.5 percent;
b. Clothing and footwear, 0.8 percent from 1.0 percent;
c. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 7.9 percent from 8.0 percent;
d. Information and communication, no price movement from 0.1 percent; and
e. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 0.6 percent from 0.7 percent. (Table 3)

Moreover, the following commodity groups retained their previous month’s inflation rate:

a. Recreation, sport and culture, 0.2 percent;
b. Education services, 3.2 percent;
c. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 0.9 percent. (Table 3)

Meanwhile, no price movements were recorded in the indices of 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 February 2025 headline inflation were the following:

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 76.6 percent share or 1.2 percentage points; 
b. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance with 15.5 percent share or 0.2 percentage point; and
c. Education services with 5.4 percent share or 0.1 percentage point.

2. Food Inflation

The headline food inflation at the city level had a slower increase of 3.4 percent in February 2025 from 4.8 percent January 2025. In February 2024, food inflation stood at 4.4 percent. (Table 7)

2.1 Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of Food Inflation

The deceleration of food inflation in February 2025 were mainly brought by the slower year-on-year increments of fish and other seafood at 7.4 percent, corn at 8.0 percent, meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 5.8 percent from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 16.1 percent, 20.0 percent and 6.4 percent. Also contributed to the deceleration in city’s food inflation was the faster annual decrease of rice at 1.0 percent during the month from 0.3 percent annual increase in January 2025. (Table 5)

Faster year-on-year decrement was posted in milk, other dairy products and eggs index at 0.3 percent in February 2025 from 0.2 percent annual increase in January 2025. (Table 5)
In addition, slower annual increases were also recorded in the indices of ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 1.7 percent and flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereal at 0.5 percent from their previous month’s respective inflation rates at 2.1 percent and 0.6 percent. (Table 5)

On the other hand, higher inflation rates were noted in the following food groups during the month:

a. Oils and fats, 0.2 percent from no price movement; 
b. Fruits and nuts, 3.0 percent from 0.9 percent;
c. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, 11.8 percent from 2.8 percent; and
d. Sugar, confectionery and desserts, -3.1 percent from -4.0 percent. (Table 5)

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

The food inflation shared 72.7 percent or 1.1 percentage points to the overall inflation in February 2025. The top three food groups in terms of contribution to the food inflation during the month were the following:

a. Fish and other seafood, with 39.4 percent share or 1.3 percentage point; 
b. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 37.6 percent share or 1.3 percentage points; and
c. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, with 23.4 percent share or 0.8 percentage point.

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

Approved by:

MELCHOR B. BAUTISTA
Chief Statistical Specialist

KST/MJG