1. Overall Inflation

Zamboanga del Sur’s inflation for the bottom 30% income households declined to 0.8 percent in February 2025 from an annual increase of 2.7 percent in the previous month. In February 2024, inflation rate was posted at 4.2 percent. (Tables A and B, and Figure 1)

1.1 Main Drivers to the Downtrend of the Overall Inflation

The downward trend in the overall inflation for this income group in February 2025 primarily brought about by the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages which recorded an annual decline of 3.3 percent during the month from 2.4 percent annual increase in the previous month. Also contributing to the downtrend was transport with an annual decline of 1.7 percent during the month from 1.6 percent annual increase in January 2025. 

Moreover, lower annual rates were noted in the indices of the following commodity groups:

a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 7.1 percent from 7.8 percent; and 
b. Restaurants and accommodation services, 2.7 percent from 3.9 percent. 

In contrast, the following commodity groups registered higher inflation rates during the month:

a. Clothing and footwear, 1.8 percent from 1.6 percent; 
b. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 8.3 percent from 2.6 percent; 
c. Recreation, sport and culture, 4.0 percent from 3.1 percent; and 
d. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 4.8 percent from 4.4 percent. 

The information and communication recorded zero percent inflation rate in February 2025 from an annual increase of 0.7 percent in January 2025. The indices of furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, health, education services, and financial services retained their previous month’s annual increment. (Table C)

1.2 Main Contributors to the Overall Inflation

Among the commodity groups, the main contributors to the February 2025 overall inflation were the following:

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 303.3 percent share or -2.43 percentage points; and
b. Transport with 9.3 percent share or -0.07 percentage point.  

2.0 Food Inflation

Food inflation for the bottom 30% income households in the province declined to 3.6 percent in February 2025 from an annual increase of 2.3 percent in the previous month.

2.1 Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of Food Inflation

The deceleration of food inflation in the province was mainly brought about by the faster annual decline in the cereals and other cereal products index at 12.4 percent during the month from 5.1 percent annual decline in January 2025. Also contributing to the downtrend was the slower annual increase in the fish and other seafood index at 5.4 percent in February 2025 from a 16.4 percent in the previous month.

In addition, lower annual increments were noted in the indices of the following food groups:

a. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 5.7 percent from 5.8 percent; and 
b. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, 0.1 percent from 5.8 percent 

Moreover, faster annual decrease was observed in the index of oils and fats at 5.3 percent during the month from 3.2 percent annual decline in January 2025. 

In contrast, higher annual increments were noted in the following food groups:

a. Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 3.7 percent from 1.0 percent; 
b. Fruits and nuts, 15.3 percent from 13.1 percent; and 
c. Ready-made food and other food products, 5.1 percent from 3.0 percent. 

In addition, slower annual decrease was noted in the index of sugar, confectionery and desserts at 0.7 percent in February 2025 from 4.1 percent annual drop in the previous month. (Table D)

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 325.2 percent or -2.60 percentage points 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 with 164.1 percent share or -5.91 percentage points; 
b. Oils and fats with 1.7 percent share or -0.06 percentage point; and
c. Sugar, confectionery and desserts with 0.4 percent share or -0.01 percentage point. 

DIMNA P. BIENES 
Chief Statistical Specialist