Table A. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates, All Items
In Percent (2018=100)

Headline Inflation

The headline inflation in Laguna slowed down to 2.2 percent in March 2025 from 2.3 percent in February 2025. This brings the provincial average inflation from January to March 2025 to 2.6 percent. In March 2024, inflation rate was higher at 2.8 percent. (Table A and Figure 1) 

Figure 1. Headline Inflation Rates in Laguna, All Items
(2018=100)

The downtrend in the overall inflation in March 2025 was primarily influence by the lower year-on-year growth in the Restaurants and Accommodation Services at 0.0 percent during the month from 2.7 percent in the previous month. Also contributing to the downtrend was Transport with an annual decrease of -0.2 percent during the month from 2.0 percent in February 2025. In addition, the Health recorded a slower annual increase of 1.3 percent in March 2025 from a 2.5 percent annual increase in the previous month. 

Moreover, lower annual increments were noted in the indices of the following commodity groups during the month:

         a. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 1.2 percent from 1.9 percent;
         b. Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels, 0.4 percent from 0.5 percent; 
         c. Clothing and footwear, 1.1 percent from 1.4 percent; and 
         d. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 1.4 percent from 1.7 percent;
 

Meanwhile, increase in inflation rate was observed in Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages at 5.0 percent from 3.6 percent and Recreation, Sports and Culture at 1.2 percent from 0.7 percent.

The indices of the rest of the commodity groups retained their respective previous month’s annual rates. (Tables B)

Table B. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates by Commodity Groups in Laguna
All Items in Percent (2018=100)

The top three commodity groups contributing to the March 2025 overall inflation were the following:

      a. Restaurants and Accommodation Services with 47.1percent;
      b. Transport with 37.3 percent share; and
      c. Health with 5.5 percent share

Food Inflation

Food inflation at the provincial level moved at a faster pace of 5.1 percent in March 2025 from 3.6 percent in the previous month. In March 2024, food inflation was recorded at 3.4 percent.

The acceleration of food inflation in March 2025 was primarily brought about by the higher inflation rate of Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 9.5 percent in March 2025 from 8.6 percent in previous month; Fish and other seafood at 8.4 percent during the month from 2.2 percent in February 2025. This was followed by the faster year-on-year increase of Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 7.7 percent during the month from 0.9 percent in February 2025. (Table C)

Table C. Year-on-Year Inflation Rates of Food Items in Laguna
All Items in Percent (2018=100)

In addition, higher inflation rates during the month were noted in the following food groups: 
       a. Fruits and nuts, 11.7 percent from 11.1 percent; 
       b. Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 3.8 percent from 3.4 percent; and 
       c. Flour, Bread and Other Bakery Products, Pasta Products, and Other Cereals; 2.0 percent from 1.9 percent.

On the contrary, slower annual growth rates during the month were observed in the indices of the following food groups: 
       a. Oils and fats, 10.6 percent from 10.9 percent. 
       b. Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c., 3.1 percent from 3.2 percent; 
       c. Sugar, confectionery and desserts, -1.4 percent from -0.4 percent; 
       d. Corn, 5.7 percent from 7.4 percent; and 
       e. Rice, -2.6 percent from -1.6 percent

Food inflation shared 76.7 percent or 1.7 percentage point to the overall inflation in March 2025. The top three food groups in terms of contribution to food inflation during the month were the following:
       a. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with a share of 46.8 percent or 2.4 percentage points;
       b. Fish and other seafood with a share of 23.5 percent or 1.2 percentage points; and
       c. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with a share of 10.7 percent or 0.6 percentage points.

(SGD)
ELVIN D. ARASULA
OIC-Provincial Statistics Officer
 

MCM/UDV