For May 2025, the inflation rate (IR) in CALABARZON decelerated at 1.6 percent, 0.1 percentage point less than the previous month’s inflation rate. This deceleration was due to the slowdown in the increase in prices of basic commodities in the provinces of Laguna and Rizal and the retainment of its previous month’s inflation in the provinces of Batangas and Cavite. Meanwhile, inflation rates accelerated in the province of Quezon and highly urbanized Lucena City. Furthermore, Cavite recorded the lowest inflation rate at 0.6 percent (refer to Table A).

The headline inflation rate in CALABARZON exhibited a lower rate compared to the IR in May 2024 which was recorded at 3.5 percent. From May 2024 to June 2024 (3.3 percent), the trend showed a downward movement. Inflation then peaked at 4.0 percent in July, then it dropped to 1.8 percent by September 2024. From October, it slightly increased every month until reaching 3.3 percent by December 2024. By January 2025, the IR had a slowdown at 3.1 percent and further decline to 1.6 percent in May 2025. 

The decrease in the region’s inflation this month was mainly brought about by the slower increase in prices of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at 0.3 percent, from 1.7 percent in April 2025. In addition, the following commodity groups had lower inflation rates in May 2025: 
a. Transport at -2.3 percent;
b. Restaurants and Accommodation Services at 2.2 percent;
c. Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance at 2.0 percent; and
d. Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco at 2.8 percent.

In contrast, the following commodity groups had higher inflation rate in May 2025:
a. Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages at 2.7 percent;
b. Clothing and Footwear at 2.0 percent;
c. Health at 2.9 percent;
d. Information and Communication at 0.1 percent; and
e. Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services at 2.5 percent.

Meanwhile, commodity groups Recreation, sport and culture; Education services and Financial services all retained its previous month’s inflation rate.

A faster increase in prices was recorded for Food group from 2.0 percent in April 2025 to 2.6 percent in May 2025 (Table C). The primary contributor to the faster inflation rate of the Food group is the Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with an inflation rate of 5.9 percent, from 0.2 percent in April 2025.

Meanwhile, price of Rice decreased by -9.4 percent from -7.8 in April 2025 and Corn also slowed down its increment in prices at 10.8 percent, compared to 12.8 percent in April. On the other hand, the Non-alcoholic beverages retained its previous month’s inflation rate at 3.8 percent.

Overall, Food and Non-alcoholic Beverages had a slower price increase compared to the same month of the previous year, from 3.8 percent in 2024 to 2.7 percent in 2025.

(SGD.)
CHARITO C. ARMONIA
Regional Director

COB/JAS/JRM