1.    Headline Inflation

The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Negros Occidental conducts Press Conference on the March 2025 Inflation Report on 15 April 2025 (Tuesday), at the PSA Negros Occidental Provincial Statistics Office (PSO). PSA Negros Occidental Senior Statistical Specialist Jerome C. Cadayona serves as the resource person for the event.

A.    Negros Occidental

Highlights of the press conference covers the Headline Inflation Rates for All Income Households in Negros Occidental increased at 2.8% in March 2025 from 2.0% in February 2025. In March 2024, the inflation rate was posted at 2.3% (Please see Table 1 and Figure 1).

The following commodity groups were the top three main sources to the March 2025 overall inflation for All Income Households in Negros Occidental:  

a.    Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages at 2.3% inflation in March from 0.4% inflation in February 2025, with 37.8% share,
b.    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels at 4.0% inflation in March from 3.1% inflation in February 2025, with 21.7% share,
c.    Restaurants and Accommodation Services at 3.5% inflation in March from 4.4% inflation in February 2025, with 10.2% share.

Meanwhile, the following commodity groups were the top two major contributors to the March 2025 overall inflation for All Income Households in Negros Occidental:  

a.    Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages at 2.3% inflation in March from 0.4% in February 2025, with 84.7% share,
b.    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels at 4.0% inflation in March from 3.1% inflation in February 2025, with 15.3% share.

On the other hand, lower inflation rates were observed in the indices of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco at 6.3% from 7.7%, Clothing and Footwear at 5.6% from 6.3%, Furnishings, Household Equipment, and Routine Household Maintenance at 1.8% from 2.0%, Health at 3.1% from 3.7%, Information and Communication at 0.0% from 1.3%, Recreation, Sport and Culture at 3.1% from 3.2%, Restaurants and Accommodation Services at 3.5% from 4.4%, as well as Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services at 1.9% from 2.4%. A reference deriving out of the data generated March from February 2025, respectively.

The indices for the rest of the commodity groups retained their respective previous month’s inflation, such as Transport at -0.6%, Education Services at 18.4%, and Financial Services at 0.0%.

B.    Bacolod City

Further, the Headline Inflation Rates for All Income Households in Bacolod City increased at 3.5% in March 2025 from 3.3% in February 2025. In March 2024, the inflation rate was posted at 3.3% (Please see Table 1 and Figure 2).

The following commodity groups were the top three main sources to the March 2025 overall inflation for All Income Households in Bacolod City:

a.    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels at 4.6% inflation in March from 1.5% inflation in February 2025, with 26.5% share,
b.    Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages at 2.0% inflation in March from 2.9% inflation in February 2025, with 20.0% share,
c.    Restaurants and Accommodation Services at 7.1% inflation in March from 8.1% inflation in February 2025, with 16.9% share.

Meanwhile, the following commodity groups were the top one major contributor to the March 2025 overall inflation for All Income Households in Bacolod City:  

a.    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels at 4.6% inflation in March from -1.5% inflation in February 2025, with 96.6% share.

Also, higher inflation rates were observed in the indices of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco 5.9% from 5.0%, Health at 5.1% from 4.9%, and Recreation, Sport and Culture at 5.0% from 4.8%. A reference deriving out of the data generated March from February 2025, respectively.

Meanwhile, lower inflation rates were observed in the indices of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages at 2.0% from 2.9%, Clothing and Footwear at 6.2% from 6.8%, Furnishings, Household Equipment, and Routine Household Maintenance at 1.9% from 2.3%, Transport at -1.5 from -1.1, as well as Restaurants and Accommodation Services at 7.1% from 8.1%. A reference deriving out of the data generated March from February 2025, respectively.

The indices for the rest of the commodity groups retained their respective previous month’s inflation, such as Information and Communication at 0.4%, Education Services at 14.9%, Financial Services at 0.0%, and Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services at 5.4%.
 

Table 2. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates of the CPI for All Income Households in Negros Occidental and Bacolod City, January 2021 to February 2025.