A. Sarangani Province

1. Overall Inflation

The overall inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households in Sarangani Province further declined to 4.5 percent in May 2025 from a 3.9 percent annual decrease in April 2025. In May 2024, inflation rate in the province was higher at 6.8 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 in Sarangani Province for the bottom 30% income households in May 2025 was primarily brought about by the year-on-year decrement in the index of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 2.1 percent from 1.4 percent annual increase in April 2025. This was followed by the faster annual decrease in food and non-alcoholic beverages at 7.7 percent in May 2025 from 7.4 percent annual drop in the previous month. Clothing and footwear also contributed to the downtrend with a slower annual increase at 0.4 percent in May 2025 from 1.1 percent in the previous month. Moreover, the index of furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance also showed a slower annual increment at 0.6 percent during the month from 0.7 percent in April 2025.

In contrast, higher annual growth rates were observed in the following indices in May 2024;

a) Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 5.5 percent from 5.4 percent;
b) Health, 1.5 percent from 0.7 percent;
c) Information and communication, 0.4 percent from zero inflation; and
d) Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 4.6 percent from 4.2 percent.

Moreover, transport registered a slower annual decrease at 3.7 percent in May 2025 from an annual drop at 3.8 percent during the previous month.

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

a) Recreation, sport and culture, at 2.5 percent;
b) Education services, at zero inflation;
c) Restaurants and accommodation services, at zero inflation; and
d) Financial services, at zero inflation.
 

1.2 Main Contributors to the Overall Inflation

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

a) Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 102.3 percent share or -4.6 percentage point;
b) Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with 5.7 percent share or -0.3 percentage point; and
c) Transport with 5.1 percent share or -0.2 percentage point.

2. Food Inflation

Food inflation for the bottom 30% income households at the provincial level further declined to 8.3 percent in May 2025 from a 7.9 percent annual drop in the previous month. In May 2024, food inflation for this particular income group was higher at 10.0 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 May 2025 was mainly due to faster year-on-year decline in the index of vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 13.8 percent from a 9.8 percent annual decrement in April 2025. This was followed by the slower inflation rates in the indices of meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 2.3 percent and ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified (n.e.c.) at 1.7 percent during the month from their respective year-on-year increases at 4.1 percent and 3.4 percent in April 2025.

Also, the index of corn posted a faster annual decline at 23.4 percent in May 2025 from 22.1 percent annual drop from the previous month.

In contrast, higher inflation rates were noted in the following indices in this particular income group during the month:

a) Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products and other cereals, 5.5 percent from 3.3 percent;
b) Fish and other seafood, 2.0 percent from 0.7 percent;
c) Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 9.4 percent from 8.5 percent; and
d) Fruits and nuts, 3.0 percent from 1.6 percent.

In addition, slower annual decreases were observed in the following indices in this particular income group in May 2025:

a) Rice, -22.6 percent from -22.7 percent;
b) Oils and fats, -1.5 percent from -3.1 percent; and
c) Sugar, confectionary and desserts, -1.2 percent from -2.4 percent.

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 104.9 percent or -4.7 percentage point to the May 2025 overall inflation for this particular income group.

Among the food groups, the top three main contributors to the food inflation during the month were:

a) Cereals and cereal products, which includes rice, corn, flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals with 95.6 percent share or -7.9 percentage point; and
b) Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with 19.9 percent share or -1.7 percentage point.