Table A. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates, All Items

In percent

(2018=100)

Figure 1. Headline Inflation Rates in Benguet, All Items

(2018=100)

Table B. Year-on-Year Inflation in Benguet, By Commodity Groups

In percent

(2018=100)

Table C. Year-on-Year Food Inflation in Benguet

In percent

(2018=100)

Benguet

Headline Inflation

The headline inflation or overall inflation of the province for the bottom 30% income household increased to 3.1 percent in January 2025 from 2.0 percent in the previous month. In January 2024, the inflation rate was higher at 3.8 percent. (Figure 1, and Tables A and B)

Main Drivers to the Upward Trend of the Headline Inflation

The uptrend in the overall inflation in January 2025 was primarily brought about by the annual increment of food and non-alcoholic beverages at 3.0 percent from 1.8 percent in the previous month. Also contributing to the uptrend were housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with 5.3 percent from 3.7 percent, and restaurants and accommodation services with 2.7 percent from 1.4 percent.

Higher annual increments were also noted in the index of the following commodity groups during the month:
a.    Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 2.5 percent from 2.0 percent;
b.    Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 6.5 percent from 5.3 percent;
c.    Transport, 0.2 percent from 0.1 percent;
d.    Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 2.0 percent from 1.5 percent;
e.    Health, 3.7 percent from 3.6 percent; and
f.    Recreation, sport and culture, 1.4 percent from 1.3 percent.
On the contrary, clothing and footwear exhibited a lower annual increase during the month with 0.4 percent from 0.5 percent.
The indices of the rest of the commodity groups retained their respective previous month’s annual rates.

Main Contributors to the Headline Inflation

The top three commodity groups contributing to the January 2025 overall inflation were the following:
a.    Food and non-alcoholic beverages; 
b.    Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; and
c.    Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services.

Food Inflation

Food inflation at the provincial level for the bottom 30% income household increased to 3.0 percent in January 2025 from 1.7 percent in the previous month. In January 2024, food inflation was lower at 1.4 percent. (Table C)

Main Drivers to the Upward Trend of Food Inflation

The acceleration of food inflation in January 2025 was primarily brought about by vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with 9.8 percent from -3.1 percent in the previous month. This was followed by meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with 1.8 percent from 0.8 percent, and fish and other seafood with 2.8 percent from 1.5 percent. 
In contrast, the following commodity groups registered lower inflation rates during the month:
a.    Cereals and cereal products, 2.9 percent from 5.2 percent; 
b.    Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 0.5 percent from 1.7 percent; and
c.    Sugar, confectionery and desserts, -0.8 percent from -0.3 percent.

Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

The top three food groups in terms of contribution to the food inflation during the month were the following:
a.    Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses;
b.    Cereal and cereal products; and
c.    Fish and other seafood.

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

IMELDA L. BUYUCCAN (SGD)
Chief Statistical Specialist

/DJPN