Table A. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates for Zamboanga Peninsula and Zamboanga City, All Items
In Percent
(2018=100)

A.    Zamboanga City

a.    Overall Inflation Rate
Headline inflation in Zamboanga City decreased to 0.4 percent in May 2025 from1.1 percent in April 2025. In May 2024, the year-on-year inflation rate was comparatively higher at 5.1 percent.

1.1    Main Drivers Behind the Downtrend of the Overall Inflation Rate in Zamboanga City
The main drivers on the downtrend of the overall inflation in May 2025 was primarily driven by the slower annual increment of the commodity group Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages, which stood at (0.7) from 0.1 percent inflation in April 2025. In addition, the gradual increase in prices in the categories of Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels at 3.4 percent from 5.0 percent and Restaurants and Accommodation Services, with 1.1 percent from 1.2 percent also contributed to the downtrend of the overall inflation rate in Zamboanga City. 
In addition, a lower increment was also observed in the index of Clothing and Footwear, which posted 0.6 percent in May 2025 from 0.8 percent inflation the previous month.

On the contrary, the following commodity groups registered higher inflation rates
a.    Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance, 4.2 percent from 3.3 percent;
b.    Transport at (5.1) percent from (5.6) percent inflation; and,
c.    Recreation, Sport and Culture, 2.1 percent from 1.7 percent in April 2025.

Meanwhile, the following commodity groups retained their previous month’s inflation rates:
a.    Education Services, 5.8 percent;
b.    Health, 2.6 percent;
c.    Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services, 0.9 percent;
d.    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, 0.7 percent;
e.    Information and Communication, 0.0 percent; and,
f.    Financial Services at 0.0 percent.

1.2    Main Contributors to the Overall Inflation Rate 
The top three (3) commodity groups contributing to the overall inflation rate in Zamboanga City were the following:
a.    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels, contributing 153.3 percent share or 0.6 percentage point;
b.    Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance, contributing 19.7 percent share or 0.1 percentage point; and,
c.    Education Services, 18.2 percent share or 0.1 percentage point

Table C. Year-On-Year Inflation Rates by Commodity Groups in Zamboanga City for all Income Households, 2018=100

 

Food Inflation

Food inflation in Zamboanga City for May 2025 decreased to (0.8) percent from  0.1 percent in April 2025. On the other hand, the food inflation in May 2024 was higher at 5.7 percent.

1.1    The Main Drivers Behind the Downtrend of Food Inflation
The main drivers in the downtrend of food inflation May 2025 was brought by the slower annual growth rate of the food index of Cereals and cereal products, which recorded (11.5) percent from (9.6) percent inflation during the previous month. In addition, the decrease in prices of the food indices of Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at (0.1) percent from 6.6 percent inflation and Fruits and nuts at 22.6 percent from 25.9 percent also contributed to the lower food inflation. 
In addition, lower increments were also observed in the following food commodities:
a.    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 4.7 percent from 5.4 percent;
b.    Oils and fats at 0.1 percent from 0.9 percent inflation; and, 
c.    Sugar, confectionery and desserts, with 3.3 percent from 3.7 percent.

On the contrary, the following food commodities recorded higher year-on-year growth rates:
a.    Fish and other seafood, 3.0 percent from 1.9 percent;
b.    Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 10.3 percent from 4.1 percent; and,
c.    Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c. at 1.9 percent in May 2025 from 1.0 percent in the previous month.

Note: CPIs and inflation rates by province and selected city are posted at the PSA website (http://openstat.psa.gov.ph/).

MEWCHUN WS. PAMARAN
Regional Director  

GBS/MGCN/kxbl