Masbate’s headline inflation rises to 3.1 percent

Masbate's headline inflation rate increased to 3.1 percent in March 2025, up from 2.9 percent in February 2025. This brings the average inflation rate in the province for the first quarter of the year (January to March 2025) to 3.2 percent. The highest recorded inflation in recent months was 6.0 percent in July 2024. (See Figure 1)

Among the commodity groups, Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages was the primary contributor to the inflation increase, recording a 2.6 percent inflation rate in March 2025, up from 2.1 percent in the previous month. This was followed by Restaurants and Accommodation Services, which rose from 4.4 percent to 5.6 percent, and Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels, which showed a slight increase from 4.3 percent in February 2025 to 4.5 percent this month. (See Figure 1 and 4)

Other groups that registered annual inflation increases included:

a. Clothing and Footwear, 1.9 percent;

b. Recreation and Culture, 7.5 percent; and

c. Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services, 4.9 percent.

Conversely, the following groups recorded year-on-year decrease in inflation:

a. Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, 5.3 percent;

b. Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance, 7.5 percent;

c. Transport, 0.5 percent; and

d. Information and Communication, 4.4 percent.

Meanwhile, these groups maintained their annual inflation rates:

a. Health, 0.5 percent;

b. Education Services, 0.0 percent; and

c. Financial Services, 0.0 percent.

Food inflation trends

Food inflation trend in Masbate rose to 1.9 percent in March 2025, from 1.4 percent in the previous month. Key contributors to this increase were Fish and other seafood, which increased to 2.8 percent from 0.9 percent, Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, which increased from 16.7 percent last February 2025 to 20.0 percent this month, and Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, which jumped to 9.5 percent from 4.7 percent. (See Figure 2)

Other food items that experienced higher annual inflation rates include:

a. Oils and fats, -1.8 percent;

b. Fruits and nuts, 12.4 percent; and

c. Sugar, confectionery and desserts, -3.2 percent

However, the following food items showed slower inflation:

a. Cereals and cereal products (including rice and corn), -5.1 percent;

b. Milk, other dairy products and eggs, -1.0 percent; and

c. Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c, 8.1 percent.

Purchasing Power of the Peso (PPP)

Masbate’s Purchasing Power of the Peso (PPP) remained stable at 0.75 in March 2025. This reflects relatively minor changes in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) and inflation trends in the province. (See Table 1 and Figure 3)