Aurora’s Inflation Declined to 4.0 Percent

Aurora’s annual inflation decreased to 4.0 percent in February 2025 which was 0.6 percent point lower from 4.6 percent in January 2025 and 2.7 percentage points higher from 1.3 percent in February 2024. (Refer to Figure 1)

Across regions, Cagayan Valley has the highest inflation rate recorded at 3.9 percent in February 2025, followed by Western Visayas and Bicol Region at 2.7 percent. Meanwhile, SOCCSKSARGEN has the lowest inflation rate at -0.3 percent.

The headline inflation in the country decreased at 2.1 percent in February 2025.

Figure 2 presents the annual inflation rates of the different regions in the Philippines in February 2025.

In Aurora, the decrease in inflation could be mainly attributed to the lower increment posted by the index of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages at 4.5 percent from 6.5 percent in January 2025. This was followed by the index of Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services at 2.4 percent.

Listed below are the indices that recorded lower monthly increments:

•    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (3.6% from 3.7%);  
•    Recreation, Sport and Culture (3.8% from 5.4%); 
•    Information and Communication (-0.1% from 0.1%); and
•    Transport (-1.6% from -0.7%).

On the other hand, higher monthly increments were recorded in the following indices:

•    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels (5.5% from 3.2%); 
•    Restaurants and Accommodation Services (3.1% from 3.5%); and
•    Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance 
(1.4% from -0.4%).

Lastly, the following indices showed same rate from that of the previous month:

•    Health (11.8% ); 
•    Education Services (22.9%); 
•    Clothing and Footwear (0.1%);
•    Financial Services (0.0%). (Table 1)

The annual growth rate in the provincial food index posted a decrease in rate at 2.0 percentage points from 6.7 percent in January 2025 to 4.7 percent in February 2025. This trend was attributed by the lower monthly increments of the index of Vegetables, Tubers, Plantains, Cooking Bananas, and Pulses at 26.9 percent in February 2025 from 59.5 percent in January 2025. (Refer to Table 1.a)

Listed below are the following indices that recorded lower annual increments from January 2025 to February 2025:

•    Milk, Other Dairy Products, and Eggs (1.9% from 5.0%);
•    Fish and other seafood (2.4% from 3.4%); 
•    Flour, Bread and Other Bakery Products, Pasta Products, and Other Cereals (2.0% from 4.8%); and
•    Corn (17.0% from 25.0%)

Meanwhile, lower annual increment was noted only in the following index:

•    Rice (-10.4% from -12.5%);
•    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (7.8% from 5.3%)
•    Oils and Fats (5.2% from 3.9%);
•    Fruits and Nuts (36.6% from 22.5%);
•    Sugar, Confectionery and Desserts (1.7% from -0.8%); and 
•    Ready-made Food and Other Food Products N.E.C (6.3% from 6.2%). 
(Refer to Table 1a)

For February 2025, Pampanga recorded the highest inflation rate in the region at 5.0 percent followed by Aurora at 4.0 percent. Angeles City and Tarlac ranked 3rd and 4th at 3.5 percent and 2.6 percent, respectively. This was followed by Olongapo City at 2.3 percent.

Bulacan recorded an inflation rate of 2.0 percent while Nueva Ecija and Bataan recorded an inflation rate of 0.8 percent and 0.5 percent, respectively. Zambales still recorded the lowest inflation rate in the region at -0.2 percent from 1.4 percent in January 2025. (Refer to Figure 3) 

FERDINAND E. SANTIAGO
(Supervising Statistical Specialist) 
Officer-in-Charge
PSA Aurora