A. Sarangani Province

1. Overall Inflation

The province’s inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households recorded an annual decline of 2.6 percent in February 2025 from 1.1 percent annual drop in January 2025. In February 2024, inflation rate in the province was higher at 6.4 percent. (Figure 1, Tables A and B)

1.1 Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of the Overall Inflation (Table B)

The downtrend in the overall inflation for the bottom 30% income households in February 2025 was brought about by the faster year-on-year decline in food and non-alcoholic beverages at 5.3 percent from 3.3 percent annual decrease in the previous month. This was followed by transport with a slower annual increment of 0.1 percent from 3.1 percent in January 2025.  Also, housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels posted an annual decrement of 0.8 percent in February 2025 from 0.1 percent annual drop in the previous month.

Moreover, the index of personal care and miscellaneous goods and services also showed a slower annual increase of 4.7 percent during the month from 5.3 percent in January 2025. Clothing and footwear also posted a slower annual increment at 1.3 percent from 1.4 percent inflation in January 2025.

On the contrary, annual increase was observed in the index of recreation, sport and culture at 3.9 percent during the month from 3.8 percent in January 2025.

Furthermore, the following commodity groups retained their previous month’s inflation rates:

a) Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, at 5.4 percent;
b) Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, at 1.2 percent;
c) Health, at 1.8 percent;
d) Information and communication, at zero inflation;
e) Education services, at zero inflation;
f) Restaurants and accommodation services, at zero inflation; and
g) Financial services, at zero inflation.
 

1.2 Main Contributors to the Overall Inflation

The following commodity groups were the top two contributors to the February 2025 overall inflation for the bottom 30% income households:

a) Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 116.0 percent share or -3.0 percentage point; and
b)Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with 4.1 percent share or 0.1 percentage point;

2. Food Inflation

Food inflation for the bottom 30% income households in Sarangani Province posted a faster annual decrement of 5.7 percent in February 2025 from 3.6 percent annual decline in the previous month. In January 2024, food inflation for the bottom 30% income households in the province was higher at 9.1 percent.

2.1 Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of the Food Inflation (Table C)

The deceleration of food inflation for the bottom 30% income households in February 2025 was mainly due to the faster annual decline in the index of corn at 26.7 percent from an 18.7 percent annual decrement in January 2025. This was followed by the index of vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 2.3 percent annual decline during the month from 5.2 percent annual increase in the previous month. The index of fish and other seafood also contributed to the downtrend with slower annual increment at 0.9 percent in February 2025 from 3.2 percent in January 2025.

Furthermore, rice posted a faster annual decline of 14.9 percent during the month from 13.5 percent annual drop in January 2025. Also, the index of oils and fats recorded an annual decrement of 3.3 percent in February 2025 from 3.0 percent  annual decrease in the previous month.

Moreover, slower annual growth rates were recorded in the indices of meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 1.0 percent during the month from 1.7 in January 2025 and ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified (n.e.c.) at 3.8 percent in February 2025 from 4.5 percent in the previous month.

In contrast, higher annual increase was noted in the index of fruits and nuts at 3.3 percent during the month from 2.6 percent in January 2025.

Annual increase was observed in the of flour, bread and other bakery products, oasta products, and other cereals at 2.3 percent during the month from an annual decline of 1.5 percent in the previous month. Slower annual decrease was observed in sugar, confectionary and desserts at 1.5 percent in February 2025 from 4.0 percent annual decline in January 2025.

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 118.5 percent or -3.1 percentage point to the February 2025 overall inflation for this particular income group.

Among the food groups the main contributors to the food inflation during the month were the following:

a. Cereals and cereal products, which includes rice, corn, flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals with 110.0 percent share or   -6.3 percentage point;
b. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with 3.4 percent share or -0.2 percentage point; and
c. Sugar, confectionery and desserts with 0.7 percent share or 0.0 percentage point.