The Batangas Province inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households slowed down further to 1.2 percent in April 2025 from 1.5 in March 2025. This brings the average inflation rate for this income group from January to April 2025 to 1.8 percent. In April 2024, the inflation rate was posted at 4.3 percent (Figure 1).

The downtrend in the overall inflation for the bottom 30% income households in April 2025 was primarily brought about by the annual decrement in the index of the heavily-weighted food and non-alcoholic beverages at 0.6 percent during the month from 1.7 percent in March 2025. Transport also contributed to the lower inflation rate after its index posted a faster annual decline of -2.0 percent in April 2025 from a 1.4 percent yearly decrease in the previous month. 

In addition, slower annual growth rates were noted in the indices of the following commodity groups in April 2025:

1. a. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, -0.3 percent from 0.0 percent

2. b. Recreation, sport and culture, 2.0 percent from 3.2 percent

In contrast, higher annual growth rates were recorded in the indices of the following commodity groups:

1. a. Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, 7.4 percent from 7.0 percent

2. b. Clothing and Footwear, 0.1 percent from -0.5 percent

3. c. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuel gas, 0.7 percent from 0.2 percent

4. d. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 3.5 percent from 2.7 percent

The indices of the rest of the commodity groups retained their respective previous month’s annual growth rates. (Table 1)

Food inflation for the bottom 30% income households in Batangas recorded an annual decline of 0.4 percent in April 2025 from 1.5 percent in the previous month. In April 2024, food inflation was observed at 5.8 percent. 

The deceleration of food inflation in April 2025 was primarily brought about by the faster year-on-year decline of the following food groups:

1. a. Oils and Fats, 32.6 percent from 36.5 percent

2. b. Vegetables, tubers. Plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, 0.7 percent from 8.1 percent

3. c. Rice, (11.5) percent from (6.5) percent

4. d. Corn, 7.8 percent from 12.3 percent

5. e. Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products and other cereals, (3.2) from (3.1)

On the contrary, faster year-on-year increases were observed in the indices of:

1.   a. meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 12.1 percent from 9.4 percent

2.      Fish and other seafood, 0.9 percent from (1.7) percent

3.      Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 5.5 percent from 5.1 percent

4.      Fruits and nuts, 13.5 percent from 13.0 percent

5.      Ready-made food and other food products, 2.4 percent from 2.0 percent

The index of sugar, confectionery and desserts retained its previous month’s annual growth rate at (0.3).

The top three food groups in terms of contribution to food inflation during the month were the following: 

1. a. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with 561.8 percent share or 2.25 percentage points;

2. b. Oils and fats with 198.5 percent share or 0.79 percentage points; and

3. c. Milk, other dairy products and eggs with 88.8 percent share or 0.79 percentage points.