_{Headline Inflation}

The province’s headline inflation or overall inflation remained at 3.5 percent in February 2025. This brings the provincial average inflation from January 2025 to February 2025 at 3.5 percent. Inflation in February 2024 was higher at 4.6 percent. (Table 1)

Main Contributors to the Headline Inflation

The top three commodity groups contributing to the February 2025 overall inflation were the following:

 a. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with 34.5 percent share and 1.21 percentage points;

 b. Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 21.0 percent share and 0.73 percentage point; and

 c. Transport with 8.2 percent share and 0.29 percentage point. 

Food Inflation

Food inflation at the provincial level decreased to 1.3 percent in February 2025 from 2.1 percent in January 2025. In February 2024, food inflation was higher at 7.0 percent.

Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of Food Inflation

The deceleration of food inflation in February 2025 was mainly brought about by the slower annual increment in vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 8.1 percent in February 2025 from 17.9 percent in the previous month. The index of fish and other seafood also contributed to the downtrend with an inflation rate of 2.4 percent during the month from 3.2 percent in January 2025.

Moreover, lower annual growth rates during the month were also noted in the indicesof the following food commodity groups during the month:

 a. Cereals and cereal products, -1.4 percent from -1.2 percent; and

 b. Milk, other dairy products and eggs,  -3.2 percent from -2.2 percent.

Meanwhile, faster annual increase was noted in the indices of the following:

 a. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 3.0 percent from 1.4 percent;

 b. Fruits and nuts, 12.6 percent from 11.8 percent; 

 c. Sugar, confectionary and desserts,-6.4 percent from -9.6 percent; and 

 d. Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c., 4.8 percent from 4.3 percent. 

The indices of oils and fats commodity group retained its previous month’s annual rates.

Main contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation shared16.1 percent or 0.56 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. Fruits and nuts with a share of 42.3 percent or 0.55 percentage points;

 b. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with a shareof 41.6 percent or 0.54 percentage points; and

 c. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with a share of 36.4 percent or 0.47 percentage point.