Guimaras food inflation drops to -0.9 in March 2025

The food inflation rate in Guimaras further declined to -0.9 percent in March 2025, down from 0.6 in the previous month. This also represents a 10.7 percentage points decrease from the 10.8 percent recorded in the same period last year. (Table 1 and Figure 1)

Primary Factors Driving the Decrease in Food Inflation

The contraction of food inflation in Guimaras in March 2025 was primarily driven by a significant price drop in cereals and cereal products, which recorded a -3.2 percent inflation rate, down from 4.2 percent in February 2025. This category alone contributed 86.0 percent to the overall downtrend in food inflation. The decline was largely influenced by the drop in rice inflation, which fell to -4.5 percent in March 2025 from 4.9 percent in the previous month and marked a significant decrease from the 33.8 percent rate recorded in March 2024.

Also contributing to the overall slowdown were more moderate price increases in meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, which saw a reduced inflation rate of 5.1 percent in March 2025, compared to 6.4 percent in February and 20.0 percent a year earlier.

Additionally, fruits and nuts registered a deeper deflation, with inflation declining further to -3.4 percent in March 2025 from -0.5 percent in the previous month.

In contrast, the following food items recorded faster inflation rates in March 2025 compared to February 2025: 

a) Fish and other seafood, -3.1 percent from -8.3 percent 

b) Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 5.2 percent from 4.0 percent; and

c) Oils and fats, -3.7 percent from -3.8 percent.

Main Contributors to Food Inflation in March 2025

The three commodity groups with the highest contribution to the March 2025 overall food inflation were the following: 

a) Cereals and cereal products, with a 117.2 percent contribution or 1.1 percentage point;

b) Fish and other seafood with 80.7 percent contribution or 0.7 percentage point; and

c) Fruits and nuts with 19.9 percent contribution or 0.2 percentage point.

Iloilo records the highest food inflation in Western Visayas in March 2025

In March 2025, food inflation rates across the provinces and the highly urbanized city in Western Visayas exhibited mixed trends. Among the areas covered, Iloilo province recorded the highest food inflation rate at 4.4 percent, followed closely by Capiz and Iloilo City, both at 4.1 percent.

On the other hand, Antique posted the sharpest decline, registering a deflation of -1.7 percent, the lowest rate in the region. This was followed by Guimaras with -0.9 percent, and Aklan with 0.8 percent, indicating easing food prices in these provinces.

Food Inflation for the Bottom 30% Income Households in Guimaras

The food inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in Guimaras declined to -0.2 percent in March 2025 from 1.4 percent in the previous month. In March 2024, the food inflation for low-income households in the province was recorded at 11.8 percent. (Table 3)

The slowdown in food inflation for low-income households in Guimaras in March 2025 was primarily driven by the slower price increase in cereals and cereal products, which recorded an inflation rate of -3.6 percent, down from 4.6 percent in the previous month and from 28.2 percent inflation in March 2024. This commodity group accounted for 92.6 percent of the total food inflation for low-income households in March 2025. (Table 4)

The downtrend in food inflation for the bottom 30% income households in March 2025 was also influenced by slower price movements in several food commodity groups. Notably, meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals registered a 5.1 percent inflation rate, easing from 7.0 percent in February 2025.

In addition, fruits and nuts experienced a deeper decline, with inflation dropping to -3.9 percent, compared to -1.0 percent in the previous month. Similarly, ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified (n.e.c.) saw inflation ease from 9.8 percent in February to 9.1 percent in March 2025.

Sugar, confectionery, and desserts also continued to decline, with inflation falling slightly to -3.7 percent from -3.5 percent in February.

Meanwhile, the inflation rate for vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses remained stable at 0.8 percent in both February and March 2025, indicating no significant month-on-month change.

Meanwhile, food items with accelerating food inflation rate in March 2025 from February 2025 for low-income households in Guimaras were Fish and other seafood at 1.8 percent from -5.9 percent in February 2025; Milk, other dairy products and eggs at 5.4 percent from 4.3 percent; and Oils and fats at -6.5 percent from -7.3 percent in the previous month.

On the other hand, the top three commodity groups contributing to the March 2025 overall food inflation for low-income Households were the following:

1. Cereals and cereal products, with a 730.5 percent contribution or 1.5 percentage point 

2. Fruits and nuts with 78.5 percent contribution or 0.2 percentage point; and 

3. Oils and fats with 53.0 percent contribution or 0.1 percentage point.

In March 2025, food inflation rates for the bottom 30% income households across Western Visayas showed significant variations across provinces and the highly urbanized city.

Capiz posted the highest food inflation rate in the region at 5.0 percent. This was followed closely by Iloilo City, with an inflation rate of 4.7 percent, and Iloilo province, at 4.1 percent.

In contrast, Antique recorded the lowest food inflation rate, registering a deflation of -3.8 percent. Aklan also posted negative inflation at -1.7 percent, while Guimaras showed a slight deflation at -0.2 percent.

Consumer Price Index (CPI) for low-income households in Guimaras

Prices of goods and services in Guimaras for the bottom 30% income households have increased by 33.3 percent from the base year 2018 to March 2025. To afford the same basket of goods and services consumed in 2018 worth PhP1,000.00, low income households in Guimaras need an additional amount of Php333.00 in March 2025.

The consumer price index or CPI is a measure of change in the average retail prices of a fixed basket of commodities or goods and services commonly purchased by the households relative to a base year or base period. CPI allows individuals, businesses, and policymakers to understand inflation trends, make economic decisions, and adjust financial plans accordingly.

The CPI is also used to adjust other economic series for price changes. For example, CPI components are used as deflators for most personal consumption expenditures in the calculation of the gross domestic product. Moreover, it serves as a basis to adjust the wages in labor management contracts, as well as pensions and retirement benefits. Increases in wages through collective bargaining agreements use the CPI as one of their bases.