The headline inflation rate at the regional level further slowed down to 1.1 percent in May 2025, from 1.7 percent in the previous month. In the same reference month of the previous year, the index posted at 4.6 percent. The main contributors to the downtrend of inflation were food and non-alcoholic beverages (0.2 percent inflation), housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels (1.7 percent inflation), and restaurants and accommodation services (7.1 percent inflation).

INFLATION RATE BY COMMODITY GROUP

Likewise, the following commodity groups showed a slowdown in the average inflation for the month of May 2025:

• Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (3.6% inflation) 
• Clothing and Footwear (1.0% inflation)
• Information and Communication (8.3% inflation)
• Recreation, Sport and Culture (3.0% inflation) and
• Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services (0.5% inflation).

On the other hand, the following commodity groups exhibited a higher annual gain in the average inflation for the month of May 2025:

• Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance (2.3% inflation) and
• Health (3.4% inflation).

Meanwhile, the commodity groups of Transport (- 3.0% inflation), Educational Services (1.7% inflation), and Financial Services (0.0% inflation) retained their previous month’s inflation rate.

INFLATION RATE BY FOOD GROUP 

The region’s food index declined to negative 0.1 percent in May 2025, from 0.9 percent in the previous month. Additionally, the food inflation rate was lower by 6.0 percentage points, relative to May 2024. The downtrend in the food index was mainly contributed to rice (-13.6% inflation), sugar, confectionery and desserts (-0.3% inflation), fish and other seafood (3.8% inflation), vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses (2.2% inflation), fruits and nuts (8.6% inflation) and meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (14.2% inflation). Additionally, inflation of the indices of flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals (1.7% inflation) and ready-made food and other food products (3.6% inflation) were lower compared to the annual rates from the previous month.

On the other hand, inflation of the indices of corn (11.3% inflation) and Oils and Fats (5.1% inflation) were higher in May 2025. Meanwhile, Milk, other dairy products and eggs (0.8% inflation) retained from the previous month’s inflation rate.

PURCHASING POWER OF PESO

The Purchasing Power of Peso (PPP) in the MIMAROPA Region retained at Php 0.75 in May 2025. The PPP registered at Php 0.76 in the same month of the previous year. As a result, the amount of goods that can be presently purchased by consumers was fewer compared to when the PPP was higher. 

(SGD) LENI R. RIOFLORIDO
Regional Director

MLLM / OHG / TJMD