1. Overall Inflation

Zamboanga del Sur’s inflation for the bottom 30% income households increased to 2.7 percent in January 2025 from 0.9 percent in December 2024. In January 2024, inflation rate was posted at 2.0 percent. (Tables A and B, and Figure 1)

1.1 Main Drivers to the Uptrend of the Overall Inflation

The main driver of the upward trend of the overall inflation for this income group in January 2025 was the faster year-on-year increase in the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages at 2.4 percent from a decline of 0.2 percent in the previous month. In addition, the higher annual increases in the personal care, and miscellaneous goods and service index at 4.4 percent during the month from 3.4 percent in December 2024, and transport index at 1.6 percent in January 2025 from 1.0 percent in the previous month also contributed to the uptrend in the overall inflation.

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

a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 7.8 percent from 6.9 percent; 
b. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 3.1 percent from 2.8 percent; and 
c. Restaurants and accommodation services, 3.9 percent from 3.6 percent. 

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

a. Clothing and footwear, 1.6 percent from 1.8 percent; 
b. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 2.6 percent from 3.2 percent; and 
c. Health, 0.3 percent from 1.2 percent. 

The financial services recorded zero percent inflation rate in January 2025 from an annual decline of 2.1 percent in December 2024. The indices information and communication; recreation, sport and culture; and education services retained their previous month’s annual increment. (Table C)

1.2 Main Contributors to the Overall Inflation

The top three commodity groups contributing to the January 2025 overall inflation were the following:

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 60.7 percent share or 1.64 percentage points; 
b. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with 10.6 percent share or 0.29 percentage point; and
c. Restaurants and accommodation services with 7.2 percent share or 0.19 percentage point. 

2.0 Food Inflation

Food inflation for the bottom 30% income households in the province increased to 2.3 percent in January 2025 from 0.5 percent in the previous month.

2.1 Main Drivers to the Upward Trend of Food Inflation

The acceleration of food inflation in the province was mainly brought about by the faster annual increase in the fish and other seafood index at 16.4 percent during the month from a decrease of 2.9 percent in December 2024. In addition, the higher annual increases in the vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses index at 5.8 percent during the month from a decline of 5.0 percent in December 2024, and meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals index at 5.8 percent in January 2025 from 0.4 percent in the previous month also contributed to the uptrend.

Moreover, higher annual increments were noted in the indices of the following food groups:

a. Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 1.0 percent from 0.3 percent; 
b. Oils and fats, -3.2 percent from -3.5 percent; 
c. Fruits and nuts, 13.1 percent from 12.7 percent; 
d. Sugar, confectionery and desserts, -4.1 percent from -5.0 percent; and
e. Ready-made food and other food products, 3.0 percent from 1.3 percent. (Table D)

In contrast, lower annual increments was observed in the index of cereals and cereal products at a decline of 5.1 percent in January 2025 from a decline of 2.2 percent in the previous month. (Table D)

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 53.6 percent or 1.45 percentage points to the January 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. Fish and other seafood, with 149.1 percent share or 3.43 percentage points; 
b. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with 19.5 percent share or 0.45 percentage point; and
c. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with 18.6 percent share or 0.43 percentage point. (Table D)

DIMNA P. BIENES 
(Supervising Statistical Specialist) 
Officer-in-Charge