Inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Puerto Princesa  increased to 3.3 percent in May 2025 from 2.4 percent in April 2025. In May 2024, inflation rate was higher at 6.1 percent. (Table A and Figure 1) 

The main driver to the upward trend in the city’s inflation for this income group in May 2025 was the higher year-on-year growth in the heavily weighted Food and non alcoholic beverages at 2.8 percent from 1.9 percent in April 2025. Also contributing to the increase in the overall inflation is Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and other Fuels at 5.3 percent in May 2025 from 3.1 percent in the previous month, and Transport at  a decline of 1.0 percent this month from an annual decline of 1.3 percent during the past month.

In contrast, lower annual growth rates were noted in the indices of Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 1.6 percent from 1.7 percent and Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 2.4 percent from 2.6 percent. 

Meanwhile, the indices for Alcoholic beverages and Tobacco, Clothing and footwear, Information and communication, Education services, Restaurants and accommodation services, and Financial services retained their April 2025 corresponding rates.

Food inflation for the bottom 30% income households in the City of Puerto Princesa moved at a faster pace at 2.5 percent in May 2025 from a 1.7 percent growth in the previous month. In May 2024, its annual increase was observed to be higher at 7.5 percent. (Table C) 

The uptrend in the food inflation in the highly urbanized city was mainly due to the faster growth in rice at a decline of 4.4 percent in May 2025 percent from an annual decline of   7.5 percent in the previous month. This was followed by higher indices of Sugar, confectionary and desserts at 1.1 percent from 0.1 percent, as well as, Oils and fats at  11.0 percent from its previous month inflation rate of percent 9.5 percent. 

On the other hand, lower annual decreases were also noted in the following food groups:  
a) Fish and other seafood, 9.0 percent from 12.8 percent;  
b) Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 3.1 percent from 3.2 percent; and 
c)   Vegetables tubers plantains cooking bananas and pulses, 5.0 percent from 6.0 percent 

(SGD) DONNA MARIE D. MOBE
(Supervising Statistical Specialist)
Officer-In-Charge 
Palawan Provincial Statistical Office

MQV/MDO