Aurora’s annual inflation increased to 4.6 percent in January 2025 which was 0.8 percent point higher from 3.8 percent in December 2024 and 1.8 percentage points higher from 2.8 percent in January 2024. (Refer to Figure 1)

Across regions, Cagayan Valley has the highest inflation rate recorded at 5.1 percent in January 2025, followed by CAR at 4.1 percent. Meanwhile, SOCCSKSARGEN has the lowest inflation rate at 1.1 percent.

The headline inflation in the country remained at 2.9 percent in January 2025.

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

In Aurora, the increase in inflation could be mainly attributed to the higher increment posted by the index of Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages at 6.5 percent from 4.8 percent in December 2024. This was followed by the index of Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services at 2.5 percent.

Listed below are the indices that recorded higher monthly increments:

•    Transport (-0.7% from -1.1%)

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

•    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco (3.7% from 3.8%); 
•    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels (3.2% from 3.5%); 
•    Health (11.8% from 13.9%); and
•    Recreation, Sport and Culture (5.4% from 5.6%).

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

•    Clothing and Footwear (0.1%);
•    Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance (-0.4%);
•    Information and Communication (0.1%); 
•    Education Services (22.9%); 
•    Restaurants and Accommodation Services (3.1% from 5.0%); and
•    Financial Services (0.0%). (Table 1)

The annual growth rate in the provincial food index posted an increase in rate at 1.7 percentage points from 5.0 percent in December 2024 to 6.7 percent in January 2025. This trend was attributed by the higher monthly increments of the index of Vegetables, Tubers, Plantains, Cooking Bananas, and Pulses at 59.5 percent in January 2025 from 49.3 percent in December 2024. (Refer to Table 1.a)

Listed below are the following indices that recorded higher annual increments from December 2024 to January 2025:

•    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (5.3% from 3.2%)
•    Milk, Other Dairy Products, and Eggs (5.0% from 3.8%);
•    Oils and Fats (3.9% from 0.9%);
•    Fruits and Nuts (22.5% from 8.5%); and 
•    Sugar, Confectionery and Desserts (-0.8% from -5.1%).

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

•    Rice (-12.5% from -10.7%);
•    Corn (25.0% from 29.9%)
•    Flour, Bread and Other Bakery Products, Pasta Products, and Other Cereals (4.8% from 5.2%);
•    Fish and other seafood (3.4% from 3.5%); 
•    Ready-made Food and Other Food Products N.E.C (6.2% from 7.4%). 
(Refer to Table 1a)

For January 2025, Pampanga recorded the highest inflation rate in the region at 5.5 percent followed by Angeles City at 5.4 percent. Aurora and Tarlac ranked 3rd and 4th at 4.6 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively. This was followed by Olongapo City at 3.6 percent.

Nueva Ecija and Bulacan recorded an inflation rate of 2.5 percent while Bataan recorded an inflation rate of 1.7 percent. Zambales still recorded the lowest inflation rate in the region at 1.4 percent from 1.3 percent in December 2024. (Refer to Figure 3)

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