INFLATION RATE

The inflation rate (IR) in Biliran Province decreased to 1.0 percent in June 2025 which is lower by 0.2 percentage points than the recorded IR of 1.2 percent in May 2025. In June 2024, the IR was higher at 4.9 percent. (Figure 1)

The provincial IR of 1.0 percent in June 2025 is lower by 0.4 percentage points than the national IR of 1.4 percent. In contrast, it is higher by 0.3 percentage points than the regional IR of 0.7 percent. (Table A)

Among the six (6) provinces and the lone Highly Urbanized City (HUC) in Eastern Visayas, Biliran recorded the third highest inflation rate in June 2025. (Table A)

In June 2025, the province recorded an IR of 1.0 percent for all income households. This refers to All Items or the provincial market basket which represents the goods and services commonly purchased by households in Biliran. (Table A)

The downtrend in the province’s inflation in June 2025 was primarily influenced by lower year-on-year increase in housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels at 2.3 percent in June 2025 from 4.1 percent in May 2025. Food and non-alcoholic beverages came in next with faster annual decline of 1.3 percent during the month from an annual decline of 1.0 percent in the previous month. Also contributing to the downtrend was alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 2.9 percent from 3.0 percent. These commodity groups accounted for 66.6 percent, 32.8 percent, and 0.6 percent share to the downtrend in the inflation rate of the province, respectively.

On the other hand, higher year-on-year price movements in June 2025 were observed in the following commodity groups:

a. Clothing and footwear at 5.5 percent from 5.4 percent;

b. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 6.9 percent from 6.3 percent;

c. Information and communication at 2.9 percent from 2.8 percent;

d. Recreation, sport and culture at 6.6 percent from 6.2 percent;

e. Restaurants and accommodation services at 2.9 percent from 2.3 percent; and

f. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 5.9 percent from 5.7 percent.

Moreover, faster annual increase was recorded in the transport group 0.2 percent during the month from a 0.8 percent annual drop in the previous month.

Meanwhile, the rest of the commodity groups retained their respective previous month’s annual rates. (Table 1)

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

a. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels with 34.0 percent share or 0.34 percentage point;

b. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance with 29.0 percent share or 0.29 percentage point; and

c. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services with 26.1 percent share or 0.26 percentage point.

Food inflation in the province recorded a faster annual drop of 1.8 percent inflation in June 2025 from a 1.5 percent annual decrease in May 2025. In June 2024, food inflation was higher at 7.0 percent.

The deceleration of food inflation rate in June 2025 was mainly influenced by meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with lower year-on-year increase of 6.6 percent in June 2025 from 10.8 percent in May 2025. This was followed by vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses with slower year-on-year increase of 0.9 percent during the month from 4.3 percent in the previous month. Ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified also contributed to the downtrend with slower annual increment of 4.7 percent from 7.7 percent.

In addition, slower annual increment was also observed in fruits and nuts with annual increase of 9.1 percent, and in flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products and other cereals at 2.1 percent from their inflation rates of 11.3 percent and 2.4 percent, respectively.

In contrast, higher inflation rates were observed in the following food items:

• Fish and other seafood at 6.8 percent from 4.0 percent;

• Milk, other dairy products, and eggs at 4.7 percent from 4.6 percent; and

• Oils and fats at 5.0 percent from 4.2 percent.

In addition, slower annual decline was noted in rice at 17.3 percent, and in corn at 9.9 percent in June 2025 from their respective year-on-year decreases of 17.8 percent and 12.7 percent in May 2025, respectively.

Meanwhile, only the sugar, confectionery and desserts retained its previous month’s annual rate.

The non-food category in general decreased to 3.0 percent during the month from 3.2 percent in the previous month. (Table 1)

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in June 2025 was recorded at 122.2 percent. This implies that the average level of prices of consumer food and services purchased by households in June 2025 was higher by 22.2 percent compared with the prices in 2018. (Table 2)

Moreover, the provincial CPI in June 2025 is lower by 2.8 percentage points and 5.2 percentage points than the regional and national CPI levels, respectively. (Table A)

Two (2) of the 13 commodity groups observed decrease in its CPI levels in June 2025. These groups are food and non-alcoholic beverages; and housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels with CPI levels of 123.9 percent and 114.7 percent during month from their previous month’s CPI levels of 124.3 percent and 117.6 percent, respectively.

On the other hand, eight (8) of the 13 commodity groups observed increase in its CPI levels. These groups are clothing and footwear; furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance; health; transport; information and communication; recreation, sport and culture; restaurants and accommodation services; and personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services.

Meanwhile, the rest of the commodity groups retained its previous month’s CPI levels.

By commodity group, the financial services still posted the highest CPI level at 162.2 percent. This was followed by the transport group and the alcoholic beverages and tobacco with CPI levels of 129.0 percent and 127.1 percent, respectively. On the other hand, the information and communication group recorded the least CPI with 108.0 percent. (Table 2)

In general, food index recorded a decrease in its CPI level at 123.2 percent during the month from 123.6 percent in the previous month.

During the month, the following food items observed lower CPI levels:

a. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 151.1 percent from 153.5 percent;

b. Fish and other seafood at 136.0 percent from 136.1 percent;

c. Fruits and nuts at 149.2 percent from 154.0 percent; and

d. Sugar, confectionery and desserts at 143.3 percent from 143.6 percent.

In contrast, the following food items observed higher CPI levels:

a. Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals at 120.8 percent from 120.7 percent;

b. Milk, other dairy products and eggs at 126.0 percent from 125.9 percent;

c. Oils and fats at 129.2 percent from 127.8 percent;

d. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 127.9 percent from 127.3 percent; and

e. Ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified at 137.6 percent from 136.6 percent.

The non-food category recorded lower CPI level at 120.5 percent in June 2025 from 121.0 percent in May 2025. (Table 2)

PURCHASING POWER OF PESO (PPP)

The price changes reflected in the CPI caused the value of the national currency in Biliran to have a value of Php 0.82. This PPP implies that the goods and services worth Php 1.00 in 2018 is now worth Php 0.82 in June 2025 or you will need Php 122.2 to buy the same goods and services worth Php 100.00 in 2018. (Table A and Figure 2)

Approved by:

SGD. RENAVIL V. CUEVA

Chief Statistical Specialist

_Annexes:

_{Table 1. Inflation Rate by Commodity Group, Biliran: May to June 2025 and June 2024 (2018=100)}

_{Table 2. Consumer Price Index by Commodity Group, Biliran: May to June 2025 and June 2024 (2018=100)}

_{Technical Notes}