1. Overall Inflation
Zamboanga del Sur’s inflation for the bottom 30% income households posted a faster annual decline of 2.6 percent in July 2025 from an annual drop of 2.3 percent in the previous month. In July 2024, the inflation rate was posted at 7.4 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 July 2025 was primarily brought about by the faster annual decrease in the index of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 5.6 percent during the month from an annual decline of 4.8 percent in the previous month. Also contributing to the downtrend was the faster year-on-year decrease in the index of transport at 2.9 percent during the month from an annual drop of 1.3 percent in June 2025.
Moreover, lower annual rate was noted in the indices of the following commodity groups during the month:
a. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 2.0 percent from 2.1 percent;
b. Recreation, sport and culture, 4.8 percent from 5.2 percent;
c. Education services, 2.6 percent from 9.0 percent; and
d. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 3.2 percent from 3.5 percent.
In contrast, higher annual increments were noted in the indices of the following commodity groups during the month:
a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 5.3 percent from 4.2 percent;
b. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 8.9 percent from 5.9 percent; and
c. Health, 2.2 percent from 2.1 percent.
The indices of clothing and footwear, information and communication, 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 July 2025 overall inflation were the following:
a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 146.8 percent share or -3.82 percentage points; and
b. Transport with 4.7 percent share or -0.12 percentage point.
2.0 Food Inflation
Food inflation for the bottom 30% income households in the province posted a faster annual decline of 6.1 percent in July 2025 from an annual decrease of 5.3 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 slower annual increase in the index of fish and other seafood at 7.5 percent in July 2025 from 10.5 percent in the previous month. Also contributing to the downtrend was the faster annual decrease in the index of cereals and cereal products at 18.0 percent during the month from 17.4 percent annual drop in June 2025.
In addition, lower annual increments were noted in the indices of the following food groups:
a. Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 8.9 percent from 9.5 percent; and
b. Ready-made food and other food products, -5.8 percent from -5.0 percent.
In contrast, higher annual increments were noted in the following food groups:
a. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 6.7 percent from 5.7 percent;
b. Fruits and nuts, 28.5 percent from 24.0 percent;
c. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, -5.4 percent from -6.1 percent; and
d. Sugar, confectionery and desserts, 0.5 percent from 0.1 percent.
2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation
Food inflation contributed 153.4 percent or -3.99 percentage points to the July 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 142.8 percent share or -8.71 percentage points;
b. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with 8.0 percent share or -0.49 percentage point; and
c. Ready-made food and other food products with 2.8 percent share or -0.17 percentage point.
DIMNA P. BIENES
Chief Statistical Specialist
