The food inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in Guimaras declined to 5.8 percent in January 2025 from 6.3 percent in the previous month. In January 2024, the food inflation for low-income households in the province was recorded at 6.8 percent. (Table 1)

The slowdown in food inflation for low-income households in Guimaras in January 2025 was primarily driven by the slower price increase in cereals and cereal products, which recorded an inflation rate of 13.9 percent, down from 14.8 percent in the previous month. This commodity group accounted for 38.5 percent of the total food inflation for low-income households in January 2025. (Table 2)

Also contributing to the downtrend in food inflation for the bottom 30 percent income households were the slower price movements in vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses, which recorded an inflation rate of 6.1 percent—nearly half of the 12.0 percent inflation in the previous month. Additionally, fish and other seafood saw a further decline, with inflation dropping to -5.8 percent from -4.7 percent in December 2024. Similarly, ready-made food and other food products n.e.c. decreased from 9.1 percent in December 2024 to 7.7 percent in January 2025.

Meanwhile, food items with accelerating food inflation rate in January 2025 from December 2024 were Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 11.5 percent from 5.0 percent in December 2024; and Fruits and nuts at -0.6 percent from -2.4 percent in the previous month.

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

1. Cereals and cereal products, with a 93.3 percent contribution or 5.4 percentage points; 

2. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with 16.0 percent contribution or 0.9 percentage point; and 

3. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with 5.7 percent contribution or 0.3 percentage point.

Capiz records the highest food inflation for low-income households in Western Visayas in January 2025

Capiz recorded the highest food inflation rate for low-income households in Western Visayas in January 2025, reaching 6.6 percent, followed by Guimaras at 5.8 percent. Meanwhile, Aklan and Antique registered food inflation rates of 2.5 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively. The lowest food inflation rate for low-income households in the region was observed in Negros Occidental, at 1.2 percent. (Figure 2)

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 36.8 percent from the base year 2018 to January 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 Php368.00 in January 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.