The Batangas Province inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households slowed down further to 1.1 percent in May 2025 from 1.2 in April 2025. This brings the average inflation rate for this income group from January to May 2025 to 1.7 percent. In May 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 May 2025 was primarily brought about by the annual decrement in the index of the restaurant and accommodation services at 1.2 percent during the month from 3.4 percent in April 2025. Transport also contributed to the lower inflation rate after its index posted a faster annual decline of -2.6 percent in May 2025 from a -2.0 percent yearly decrease in the previous month. 

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

1. a. Recreation, sport and culture, 0.7 percent from 2.0 percent 

2. b. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 3.4 percent from 3.5 percent

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

1. a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages, 0.9 percent from 0.6 percent

2. b. Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, 8.1 percent from 7.4 percent 

3. c. Clothing and Footwear, 0.5 percent from 0.1 percent 

4. d. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuel gas, 1.7 percent from 0.7 percent 

5. e. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household 0.1 percent from (0.3) 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 increment of 0.7 percent in May 2025 from 0.4 percent in the previous month. In May 2024, food inflation was observed at 5.8 percent. 

The increment of food inflation in May 2025 was primarily brought about by the faster year-on-year increase of the following food groups:

1. a. Oils and Fats, 49.8 percent from 32.6 percent 

2. b. Cereals and cereal products, (8.9) percent from (9.8) percent

3. c. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 13.6 percent from 12.1 percent

4. d. Fruits and nuts, 13.8 percent from 13.5 percent

5. e. Vegetables, tubers. Plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, 4.4 percent from 0.7 percent 

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

1.      Fish and other seafood, 4.7 percent from 0.9 percent

2.      Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 4.4 percent from 5.5 percent

3.      Sugar, confectionery and desserts, (0.6) percent from (0.3) percent

4.      Ready-made food and other food products, 2.3 percent from 2.4 percent

In addition, the corn inflation rate slowed further, to (0.5) percent in May 2025 from 7.8 percent from the previous month. 

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 363.2 percent share or 2.54 percentage points

2. b. Oils and fats with 177.3 percent share or 1.24 percentage points; and

  c. Fruits and nuts with 51.6 percent share or 0.36 percentage points.