The headline inflation rate at the regional level further slowed down to 2.1 percent in February 2025, from 2.4 percent in the previous month. In the same reference month of the previous year, the index posted at 3.4 percent. The main contributors to the downtrend of inflation were food and non-alcoholic beverages (1.9 percent inflation), transport (-0.2 percent inflation), and furnishings, household and equipment and routine household maintenance (2.0 percent inflation).

INFLATION RATE BY COMMODITY GROUP

Likewise, the following commodity groups showed a slowdown in the average inflation for the month of February 2025:
•    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (2.9% inflation) and
•    Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services (1.0% inflation).

On the other hand, the following commodity groups exhibited a higher annual gain in the average inflation for the month of February 2025:
•    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels (2.5% inflation)
•    Health (1.8% inflation)
•    Information and Communication (1.9% inflation) 
•    Recreation, Sport and Culture (4.4% inflation) and    
•    Restaurants and Accommodation Services (6.4% inflation).

Meanwhile, the commodity groups of Clothing and Footwear (1.0% 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 decelerated to 2.0 percent in February 2025, from 3.2 percent in the previous month. Additionally, the food inflation rate was lower by 1.1 percentage points, relative to February 2024. The downtrend in the food index was mainly contributed to rice (-7.3% inflation), vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses (5.5% inflation) and fruits and nuts (7.6% inflation). Additionally, inflation of the indices of corn (4.4% inflation) and flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals (1.9% inflation) were lower compared to the annual rates from the previous month.

On the other hand, inflation of the indices of the following food items were higher in February 2025: meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (17.6% inflation); fish and other seafood (0.5% inflation); milk, other dairy products and eggs (-0.7% inflation); oils and fats (1.2% inflation); and sugar, confectionery and desserts (-1.3% inflation). Meanwhile, the ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified (2.9% 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 February 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 / RVDL