10 June 2025– Guimaras. Guimaras' inflation rate rose to 0.8 percent in May 2025, up from 0.5 percent in April and 0.2 percent in March, marking a continued upward trend at the start of the second quarter, primarily driven by rising prices in heavily weighted non-food commodity groups, according to the latest data from the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA).

“The uptrend in the overall inflation in May 2025 was primarily influenced by the faster annual price index of the housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 3.7 percent during the month, from 1.5 percent in April 2025”, Provincial Statistics Officer Nelida B. Losare said.

“The faster annual price change of restaurants and accommodation services at 10.4 percent in May 2025 from 10.1 percent in the previous month and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 0.1 percent from -0.3 percent a month ago also contributed to the quicker overall inflation”, Losare added.

Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels services, shared 91.1 percent to the uptrend of May inflation, while restaurants and accommodation services; and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance spliced 3.9 and 3.5 percent respectively.

“From April to May 2025, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels services; restaurants and accommodation services; and furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance were mainly pushed by the fast-moving price movement of electricity, gas and other fuels with 10.0 % inflation from 4.0 %, food and beverage serving services with 10.5 % from 10.3 % and goods and services for routine household maintenance with 0.2 % inflation from -0.2 % inflation, correspondingly”, Losare said.

Moreover, faster annual indices were observed in Clothing and footwear, 2.6 percent from 2.5 percent; and Recreation, sport and culture, 0.7 percent from 0.4 percent.

In contrast, four of the thirteen commodity groups recorded slower inflation rates in May 2025 over April 2025:

a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 7.7 percent from 8.3 percent 

b. Transport, 1.2 % from 1.6 percent 

c. Information and communication, 2.7 percent from 3.0 percent; and 

d. Personal care and miscellaneous goods and services, 1.1 percent from 1.4 percent.

Furthermore, four (4) commodities retained their previous month's levels: food and non-alcoholic beverages, 1.8 percent; health, 1.4 percent; education services, 0.0; and financial services, 0.0 percent.

Moreover, in May 2025, the overall inflation rate in Guimaras was primarily influenced by restaurants and accommodation services, with a 69.2 % contribution to the province’s inflation rate, or 0.55 percentage points, with the notable increase driven by a significant 10.6 % surge in restaurants, café and the like - with full service.

Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels followed closely with a 64.1% impact on overall province’s inflation, or 0.51 percentage points, with a noteworthy bearing from electricity from all sources (coal, solar, hydro, etc.) showing an inflation rate of 14.8%.

While inflation rates across Western Visayas have generally declined, Guimaras stands out for its stable and gradual slowdown over the past 13 months—from 7.0% in May 2024 to 0.8% in May 2025—unlike the sharp drops seen elsewhere. Aklan and Antique experienced the steepest declines, falling into deflation at -0.7% and -1.3% respectively. Capiz also recorded a significant drop from 4.4% to 0.9%, while Iloilo maintained moderate inflation, easing from around 4–5% in 2024 to 2.8% by May 2025.

“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 133.3 CPI, translating that a typical Guimarasnon household needs 1,333.00 pesos in May 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 0.75 in May 2025. This indicates that one peso in 2018 is now worth 0.75 centavos,” Losare added.