The inflation rate in the Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR) eased from 2.5% in February 2025 to 2.3% in March 2025. According to Aldrin Federico R. Bahit Jr., Chief Statistical Specialist of the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) - CAR, the primary contributors to this slowdown were the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages group, accounting for 55.3% of the deceleration; the Transport sector, with an 18.4% share; and the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels group, contributing 9.9%.

The Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages group emerged as the leading contributor to the region's March 2025 inflation rate of 2.3%. This commodity group accounted for 42.7% of the overall inflation, contributing 1.0 percentage point. It was followed by the Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels group, which held a 29.7% share, adding 0.7 percentage point. Meanwhile, Personal Care and Miscellaneous Goods and Services contributed a 7.2% share or 0.2 percentage point to the overall inflation.

In March 2025, four provinces and highly urbanized city (HUC) in the Cordillera reported lower inflation rates: Abra, with a significant deceleration from 2.7% to 0.7%; Baguio City, easing slightly from 3.4% to 3.2%; Benguet, slowing down from 2.2% to 1.9%; and Kalinga, from 1.8% to 1.5%. Conversely, two provinces registered higher inflation rates: Apayao, which rose from -1.2% to 0.7%; and Ifugao, accelerating from 2.1% to 2.6%. Mountain Province recorded the highest inflation rate in the region at 3.9%, unchanged from February 2025, while Abra and Apayao recorded the lowest rates, both at 0.7%.

The Purchasing Power of the Peso (PPP) in the Cordillera Administrative Region stood at PhP 0.79 in March 2025 with 2018 as base year, signifying that PhP 100.00 in 2018 was equivalent to PhP 79.00 during the reference month. Baguio City recorded the highest PPP at PhP 0.81, followed by Abra at PhP 0.80, both exceeding the regional average. Meanwhile, four areas reported lower PPP values: Apayao and Kalinga at PhP 0.78, Ifugao at PhP 0.76, and Mountain Province at PhP 0.75. Benguet's PPP matched the regional average, demonstrating alignment with the overall trend.

The Chief Statistical Specialists of the PSA Provincial Statistical Offices in CAR, along with their representatives, delivered the inflation reports for their respective provinces during the online dissemination of the March 2025 Cordillera Inflation Report. Held via Google Meet on April 14, 2025, the event was attended by 57 participants, comprising representatives from Regional Line Agencies (RLAs), Local Government Units (LGUs), the academe, and media organizations.

(SGD)
VILLAFE P. ALIBUYOG
Regional Director

Designation    Initials    Date
SOCD, CSS      AFRB     25 April 2025
SOCD, IO        RJPA      15 April 2025