The headline inflation or overall inflation in Lucena City rose to 1.0 percent in July 2025 from 0.6 percent in June 2025. This brings the city’s average inflation rate for January to July 2025 to 1.9 percent. In July 2024, the inflation rate was higher at 5.2 percent.

The uptrend in inflation was mainly driven by the faster annual increment in the index of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, which registered at 1.7 percent in July 2025 from -2.0 percent in the previous month.

Faster annual growth rates were also recorded in the indices of the following commodity groups in July 2025: 
a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 3.9 percent, from 3.5 percent;  
b. Clothing and footwear at 0.5 percent, from 0.4 percent; 
c. Recreation, sport and culture at 0.9 percent, from 0.7 percent; and 
d. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 0.8 percent, from 0.6 percent.

In contrast, the following commodity groups registered lower inflation rates during the month: 
a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages at 1.4 percent, from 2.4 percent; 
b. Health at 0.2 percent, from 0.3 percent; 
c. Transport at -4.9 percent, from -4.0 percent; and 
d. Education services at -0.3 percent, from 2.2 percent.

Meanwhile, following commodity groups retained their respective previous month’s inflation rates: 
a. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 0.5 percent; 
b. Information and communication at 0.0 percent; 
c. Restaurants and accommodation services at 2.2 percent; and 
d. Financial services at 0.0 percent.

Food inflation in Lucena City slowed to 1.3 percent in July 2025 from 2.5 percent in June 2025. In July 2024, food inflation was higher at 8.7 percent.

The deceleration of food inflation in July 2025 was mainly influenced by the slower year-on-year increase in the index of fruits and nuts, which eased to 4.6 percent from 22.0 percent in the previous month. This was followed by rice, with an inflation rate of -17.6 percent from -15.2 percent, and meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals which slowed down to 12.6 percent, from 14.5 percent in June 2025.

The indices of the following food groups also contributed to the downward trend in food inflation as they recorded slower annual increases: 
a. Milk, other dairy products and eggs at 6.4 percent, from 7.1 percent; 
b. Oils and fats at 27.9 percent, from 30.6 percent; 
c. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at -8.8 percent, from -7.9 percent; and 
d. Ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 0.3 percent, from 2.4 percent.

In contrast, higher annual growth rates were observed in the indices of the following food groups during the month: 
a. Corn at 33.7 percent, from 21.4 percent; and 
b. Fish and other seafood at 10.7 percent, from 5.1 percent.

Meanwhile, the following food groups retained their respective previous month’s annual rates: 
a. Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals at 0.5 percent; and 
b. Sugar, confectionery and desserts at -1.8 percent.

(SGD.) AIRENE A. PUCYUTAN 
Provincial Statistics Officer 
PSA Quezon

NDP/SCNG