1. Overall Inflation

Zamboanga del Sur’s inflation for the bottom 30% income households further declined to 3.2 percent in April 2025 from an annual drop of 2.0 percent in the previous month. In April 2024, the inflation rate was posted at 6.5 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 April 2025 was primarily brought about by the faster annual decline in the index of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 6.1 percent during the month from a 4.7 percent annual decrease in the previous month. Also contributing to the downtrend was the slower year-on-year increase in the index of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 4.2 percent during the month from 6.2 percent in March 2025. In addition, a slower inflation rate was recorded for restaurants and accommodation services at 2.1 percent in April 2025 from 2.7 percent in the previous month.

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

a. Clothing and footwear, 1.4 percent from 1.7 percent; 
b. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 1.8 percent from 2.0 percent; 
c. Transport, -1.9 percent from -1.5 percent; and
d. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 4.5 percent from 4.9 percent. 

In contrast, the index of alcoholic beverages and tobacco registered a higher inflation rate in April 2025 at 5.1 percent from 4.5 percent in the previous month.

The indices of health, information and communication, recreation, sport and culture, 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 April 2025 overall inflation were the following:

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages with 127.7 percent share or -4.09 percentage points; and
b. Transport with 2.4 percent share or -0.08 percentage point.

2.0 Food Inflation

Food inflation for the bottom 30% income households in the province further declined to 6.6 percent in April 2025 from an annual decrease of 5.1 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 2.4 percent during the month from 6.4 percent in March 2025. Also contributing to the downtrend was the faster annual decline in the cereals and other cereal products index at 16.9 percent in April 2025 from a 15.9 percent annual decline in the previous month.

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

a. Oils and fats, -7.6 percent from -6.8 percent; 
b. Fruits and nuts, 11.5 percent from 14.0 percent; 
c. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, -0.6 percent from 1.2 percent; 
d. Sugar, confectionery and desserts, -4.5 percent from -0.7 percent; and
e. Ready-made food and other food products, 0.5 percent from 2.6 percent.

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

a. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 6.3 percent from 5.7 percent; and 
b. Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 6.2 percent from 3.4 percent. 

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 132.5 percent or -4.24 percentage points to the April 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 122.9 percent share or -8.11 percentage points; 
b. Sugar, confectionery and desserts with 1.6 percent share or -0.10 percentage point; and
c. Oils and fats with 1.4 percent share or -0.09 percentage point. 

DIMNA P. BIENES 
Chief Statistical Specialist