1. Overall Inflation

Zamboanga del Sur’s inflation for the bottom 30% income households further declined to 2.0 percent in March 2025 from an annual drop of 0.8 percent in the previous month. In March 2024, inflation rate was posted at 4.3 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 March 2025 was primarily brought about by the faster annual decline in the index of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 4.7 percent during the month from 3.3 percent annual decrease in the previous month. Also contributed to the downtrend was the slower year-on-year increase in the index of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels index at 6.2 percent during the month from 8.3 percent in February 2025. In addition, a slower inflation rate was recorded for alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 4.5 percent in March 2025 from 7.1 percent in the previous month.

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

a. Clothing and footwear, 1.7 percent from 1.8 percent; and 
b. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 2.0 percent from 3.1 percent. 

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

a. Health, 1.8 percent from 0.3 percent; 
b. Transport, -1.5 percent from -1.7 percent; 
c. Recreation, sport and culture, 4.2 percent from 4.0 percent; and 
d. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 4.9 percent from 4.8 percent. 

The indices of information and communication, education services, restaurants and accommodation 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 March 2025 overall inflation were the following:

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 156.6 percent share or -3.13 percentage points; and
b. Transport with 3.1 percent share or -0.06 percentage point. and

2.0 Food Inflation

Food inflation for the bottom 30% income households in the province further declined to 5.1 percent in March 2025 from an annual decrease of 3.6 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 15.9 percent during the month from 12.4 percent annual decline in February 2025. Also contributing to the downtrend was the slower annual increase in the ready-made food and other food products index at 2.6 percent in March 2025 from a 5.1 percent in the previous month.

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

a. Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 3.4 percent from 3.7 percent; 
b. Oils and fats, -6.8 percent from -5.3 percent; and
c. Fruits and nuts, 14.0 percent from 15.3 percent.

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

a. Fish and other seafood, 6.4 percent from 5.4 percent; and 
b. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, 1.2 percent from 0.1 percent. 

The indices of meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, and sugar, confectionery and desserts retained their previous month’s annual increment (Table D)

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 163.9 percent or -3.28 percentage points to the March 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 149.6 percent share or -7.63 percentage points; 
b. Oils and fats with 1.6 percent share or -0.08 percentage point; and
c. Sugar, confectionery and desserts with 0.3 percent share or -0.02 percentage point. 

DIMNA P. BIENES 
Chief Statistical Specialist