Date of Release: 13 June 2025
Reference No. 25R1280-SR-037
A. General Santos City
1. Overall Inflation
The headline inflation or overall inflation in General Santos City further declined to 2.0 percent in May 2025 from a 1.3 percent annual drop in April 2025. In May 2024, the inflation rate was higher at 4.3 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)
1.1 Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of Headline Inflation (Table B)
The downtrend in General Santos City’s overall inflation 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 4.8 percent from zero inflation in April 2025. This was followed by the index of personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services with a slower annual increase at 1.5 percent in May 2025 from 1.6 percent in the previous month.
In contrast, faster annual increments were registered in the indices of furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 0.3 percent in May 2025 from 0.2 percent in the previous month, and health at 4.5 percent during the month from 4.3 percent in April 2025.
In addition, slower annual decrements were noted during the month in the indices of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 2.6 percent, and transport at 5.2 percent from their respective year-on-year decreases at 2.8 percent and 5.6 percent in April 2025.
Meanwhile, the following commodity groups maintained their respective previous month’s annual rates:
a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 1.9 percent;
b. Clothing and footwear, 1.1 percent;
c. Information and communication, at 0.0 percent;
d. Recreation, sport and culture, at 0.9 percent;
e. Education services, at 8.7 percent; and
f. Financial services, at 0.0 percent.
The index of restaurants and accommodation services retained its previous month’s annual decrease of 0.8 percent.
1.2 Main Contributors to the Headline Inflation
The top three commodity groups that contributed to the May 2025 overall inflation were the following:
a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 51.9 percent share or -1.0 percentage point; and
b. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with 44.5 percent share or -0.9 percentage point; and
c. Transport with 27.9 percent share or -0.6 percentage point.
2. Food Inflation
Food inflation in General Santos City posted a slower annual decrease at 3.1 percent in May 2025 from a 3.2 percent annual drop in April 2025. In May 2024, food inflation was higher at 7.1 percent.
2.1 Main Drivers to the Upward Trend of the Food Inflation (Table C)
The uptrend in food inflation in May 2025 was primarily influenced by the year-on-year increment of fish and other seafood at 3.3 percent from a 0.6 percent annual decline in the previous month.
Moreover, the index of rice recorded a slower annual decrement during the month at 16.0 percent from a 16.1 percent annual drop in April 2025.
Furthermore, faster annual growth rate was noted in the index of flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals at 1.6 percent in May 2025 from 1.2 percent in the previous month.
On the other hand, lower inflation rates were observed during the month in the indices of meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 3.9 percent from 5.4 percent; milk, other dairy products and eggs at 7.8 percent from 8.3 percent; and oils and fats at 4.8 percent from 5.6 percent in April 2025.
In addition, the index of corn recorded an annual decline at 2.3 percent during the month from an annual increase at 1.6 percent in April 2025. The index of ready-made food and other food products n.e.c. also registered an annual decrease at 0.2 percent in May 2025 from an annual increment at 1.7 percent in the previous month.
Faster year-on-year decreases were noted in the indices of fruits and nuts at 4.8 percent and vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 10.2 percent in May 2025 from their respective annual decrements at 0.2 percent and 8.9 percent in the previous month.
Meanwhile, the index of sugar, confectionery and desserts retained its previous month’s year-on-year decline at 2.9 percent.
2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation
Food inflation contributed 58.8 percent or -1.2 percentage point to the May 2025 overall inflation. The top three food groups in terms of contribution to food inflation during the month were the following:
a. Cereals and cereal products, which include rice, corn, flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals with a share of 128.1 percent or -4.0 percentage point;
b. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with a share of 26.9 percent or -0.8 percentage point; and
c. Fruits and nuts with a share of 6.7 percent or -0.2 percentage point.
3. Purchasing Power of Peso
The Purchasing Power of Peso (PPP) in General Santos City increased to PhP 0.81 in May 2025. This means that a peso in 2018 is worth 81 centavos in May 2025, or you need PhP 123.70 to purchase the same goods and services that cost PhP 100.00 in 2018.
The PPP is inversely related to inflation rate. Therefore, as the inflation rate decreases, PPP inclines. It can be observed that as the CPI goes up, the purchasing power or the real value of the peso goes down. In General Santos City, PPP has been decreasing on the average of 0.04 annually from 2018 to 2024. By comparison, the PPP in 2024 was 0.79 which implies that the PhP 1.00 in 2018 as the base year, values only PhP 0.79 in 2024. (Figure 2)
