The inflation rate of Bulacan descends to 2.5 percent in January 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, decreased by 0.6 percentage point from 3.1 percent in December 2024 to 2.5 percent in January 2025. However, compared to same month last year, it was lower by 4.3 percentage points from 6.8 percent to 2.5 percent. The provincial average inflation for the year 2025 was 2.5 percent.

Among the 13 commodity groups, the major contributor to the year-on-year inflation downward movement was Restaurant and Accommodation Services with 0.9 percent from 4.8 percent in December. This was followed by Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels commodity group which decelerated to 2.4 percent from 3.3 percent; Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages commodity group with 4.1 percent from 4.4 percent last month; Clothing and Footwear with 1.1 percent from 2.0 percent; and Recreation, Sport and Culture with 2.6 percent from 3.2 percent.  
The following commodity groups accelerated from the previous month: Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco to 7.4 percent from 4.4 percent; Health commodity group to 1.3 percent from 1.1 percent; Transport commodity to 0.3 percent from 0.1 percent; and Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services to 3.1 percent from 2.9 percent. Meanwhile, Financial Services rebounded to 0.0 percent from -1.0 percent.

However, the commodity groups that remained at the same level of inflation as the previous month were as follows:

• Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance, 1.0 percent;
• Information and Communication, 0.0 percent; and
• Education Services, 1.9 percent

Food Inflation decline to 4.5 percent

During the month, Food inflation in the province declined to 4.5 percent compared to 4.8 percent from the previous month. The commodity groups that showed a downward trend were the following:

1. Cereals and Cereal Products to -3.2 percent from -1.6 percent;
2. Fish and Other Seafood (ND) to 3.3 percent from 6.4 percent;
3. Milk, other dairy products and eggs (ND) to -1.1 percent from -0.7 percent;
4. Oils and fats (ND) to -0.5 percent from -0.3 percent; and
5. Sugar, Confectionery and Desserts to -4.3 percent from -4.1 percent.

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

1. Vegetables Tubers, Plantains, Cooking Bananas and Pulses to 39.4 percent from 37.7 percent;
2. Meat and Other parts of slaughtered land animals to 8.3 percent from 6.6 percent;
3. Fruits and Nuts to 7.7 percent from 3.4 percent; and
4. Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c. to 4.4 percent from 3.9 percent

Consumer Price Index (CPI) increases to 130.7

The CPI of the Province of Bulacan increased to 130.7 in January 2025 from 130.1 in December 2024. The CPI value of 130.1 implies that an average typical Filipino household in the province of Bulacan needs an average of PhP130.70 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 PhP30.70 equivalent to a 30.7 percent increase within six years.

The Purchasing Power of Peso (PPP) remains at 0.77

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

ELMOR G. BARROQUILLO 
Chief Statistical Specialist