20 May 2025– Guimaras. Guimaras' inflation rate accelerated to 0.5 percent at the start of the second quarter of 2025, up from 0.2 percent in March, driven mainly by price hikes in heavily weighted non-food items, according to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority.

“The uptrend in the overall inflation in April 2025 was primarily influenced by the faster annual increment in the index by the restaurants and accommodation services at 10.1 percent during the month, from -3.2 percent in March 2025”, Provincial Statistics Officer Nelida B. Losare said.

“The faster annual price change of transport at 1.6 percent in April 2025 from -0.1 percent in the previous month and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 1.5 percent from 0.9 percent a month ago also contributed to the quicker overall inflation”, Losare added.

Restaurants and accommodation services shared 70.1 percent of the uptrend of April inflation, while transport and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels spliced 12.6 and 10.2 percent respectively.

“From March to April 2025, restaurants and accommodation services, transport, and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels were mainly pushed by the fast-moving price movement of Restaurants, café and the like - with full service with 10.3 % inflation from -3.3 %, passenger transport by sea and inland waterway with 73.1% from 17.2 % and electricity from all sources (coal, solar, hydro, etc.) with 0.9 % inflation from -2.1 % inflation,” Losare said.

Moreover, faster annual indices were noted in health, 1.4 % from -0.3 %, alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 8.3 % from a 7.9 %, and clothing and footwear, 2.5 % from 2.4 %.

In contrast, five of the thirteen commodity groups recorded slower inflation rates in April 2025 compared to March 2025: 

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages, -1.8 % from -0.7 %; 

b. Furnishings, household equipment, and routine household maintenance, -0.3 % from 0.2 %; 

c. Information and communication, 3.0 % from 3.3 %t; 

d. Recreation, sport, and culture, 0.4 % from 1.1 %; and 

e. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 1.4 %from 1.7%.

While the other two (2) commodities retained their previous month’s inflation rate (education services: 0.0 percent, and financial services; 0.0 percent).

Moreover, in April 2025, the overall inflation rate in Guimaras was primarily influenced by restaurants and accommodation services with a 93.9 % contribution to the province’s inflation rate, or 0.47 percentage points, with the notable increase driven by a significant 10.3 % surge in restaurants, café and the like - with full service.

Alcoholic beverages and tobacco followed closely with a 72.0% impact on overall province’s inflation, or 0.36 percentage points, with a noteworthy bearing from spirits and liquors —showing an inflation rate of 10.7%, and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels with a 36.7 percent or 0.18 percentage points impact on the overall inflation of Guimaras, particularly electricity from all sources (coal, solar, hydro, etc.)

Losare also highlighted that in April 2025, Core inflation, which excludes selected food and energy items, moved faster to 2.7 percent in April 2025 from 1.5 percent in the previous month. In April 2024, core inflation was higher at 3.3 percent.

“Core inflation excludes volatile items such as food and energy, providing a clearer perspective on long term price trends”,

From April 2024 to April 2025, inflation rates in Western Visayas provinces showed significant changes, with Antique and Guimaras initially posting the highest rates, which lately dropped substantially. Antique and Aklan even experiencing deflation by April 2025. Inflation peaked in various months across provinces, notably in May, July, and August 2024, before steadily declining by early 2025. Iloilo had the most stable trend, while Antique showed the greatest fluctuations. On average, Iloilo recorded the highest inflation, and Aklan the lowest, highlighting varied economic conditions across the region.

“The Inflation Rate is the rate of change in the CPI derived by computing the indices relative to the same period in the previous year or month, and currently, Guimaras Province posted a 132.4 CPI, translating that a typical Guimarasnon household needs 1,324.00 pesos in April 2025 to purchase a basket of goods and services worth 1000 pesos in 2018," Losare clarified.

“The Purchasing Power of the Peso (PPP) in Guimaras was at 0.76 in March 2025. This indicates that one peso in 2018 is now worth 0.76 centavos”, Losare added.