The inflation rate of Bulacan declines to 2.0 percent in February 2025

The headline inflation rate, or the year-on-year change in the prices of goods and services commonly purchased by people in the Province of Bulacan, decelerated by 0.5 percentage point from 2.5 percent in January 2025 to 2.0 percent in February 2025. However, compared to same month last year, it was lower by 5.3 percentage points from 7.3 percent to 2.0 percent. The provincial average inflation for the year 2025 was 2.3 percent.

Among the 13 commodity groups, the major contributor to the year-on-year inflation downward movement was Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels with 1.0 percent from 2.4 percent in January. This was followed by Transport group which contracted to -0.9 percent from 0.3 percent; and Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages commodity group with 3.9 percent from 4.1 percent. Furthermore, a decline in the annual inflation rates was observed across several commodity groups during the month: Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services with 2.6 percent from 3.1 percent; Health with1.0 percent from1.3 percent; Restaurants and Accommodation Services with 0.8 percent from 0.9 percent; and Recreation, Sport and Culture with 2.2 percent from 2.6 percent.

On the other hand, certain commodity groups experienced an acceleration in their annual inflation rates during the month. Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco with 8.5 percent from 7.4 percent; Clothing and Footwear with 1.3 percent from 1.1 percent; Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance with 1.2 percent from 1.0 percent; and Information and Communication with 0.3 percent from 0.0 percent.

However, the commodity groups that remained at the same level of inflation as the previous month were Education Services with 2.2 percent and Financial Services with 0.0 percent.

Food Inflation reduces to 4.0 percent

During the month, Food inflation in the province reduced further to 4.0 percent compared to 4.5 percent from the previous month. The commodity groups that showed a downward trend were the following:

• Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses (ND) to -16.6 percent from 39.4 percent;
• Cereals and Cereal Products (ND) to -3.9 percent from -3.2 percent;
• Fruits and Nuts (ND) to 5.4 percent from 7.7 percent; and
• Ready-made Food and Other Food Products N.E.C (ND) to 3.4 percent from 4.4 percent;

Meanwhile, the following food groups exhibited an upward trend during the month:

• Meat and Other parts of slaughtered land animals to 12.3 percent from 8.3 percent;
• Fish and Other Seafood (ND) to 5.9 percent from 3.3 percent;
• Milk, Other Dairy Products and Eggs (ND) to 2.5 percent from -1.1 percent;
• Oils and Fats (ND) to 0.5 percent from -0.5 percent; and
• Sugar, Confectionery and desserts (ND) to -4.0 percent from -4.3 percent;
   

Consumer Price Index (CPI) declines to 130.6

The CPI of the Province of Bulacan slightly declined to 130.6 in February 2025 from 130.7 in January 2025. The CPI value of 130.6 implies that an average typical Filipino household in the province of Bulacan needs an average of PhP130.60 to buy and avail the same amount of commonly purchased basket of goods and services worth Php100.00 in the year 2018. There was an increase of PhP30.60 equivalent to a 30.6 percent increase within six years.

The Purchasing Power of Peso (PPP) remains at 0.77

The PPP remained at 0.77 in February 2025. This means that a peso in 2018 was only worth 77 centavos during the month.

ELMOR G. BARROQUILLO
Chief Statistical Specialist