INFLATION RATE

The inflation rate (IR) in Biliran Province slows down to 1.1 percent in April 2025 which is lower by 1.2 percentage points than the recorded IR of 2.3 percent in March 2025. In April 2024, the IR was higher at 4.4 percent. (Figure 1)

The provincial IR of 1.1 percent in April 2025 is lower by 0.3 percentage points than the national IR of 1.4 percent. In contrast, it is higher by 0.5 percentage points than the regional IR of 0.6 percent. (Table A)

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

In April 2025, the province recorded an IR of 1.1 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 April 2025 was primarily influenced by food and non-alcoholic beverages with an annual decrease of 0.7 percent in April 2025 from an annual increase of 0.5 percent in March 2025. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels came in next with 2.6 percent during the month from 5.8 percent in the previous month. Also contributing to the downtrend was transport at 0.8 percent annual decrease from 0.5 percent annual increase. These commodity groups accounted for 44.0 percent, 39.6 percent, and 10.4 percent share to the downtrend in the inflation rate of the province, respectively.

Moreover, lower year-on-year price movements in April 2025 were observed in the following commodity groups:

a. Clothing and footwear at 5.5 percent from 6.0 percent;
b. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 6.0
percent from 6.2 percent;
c. Health at 3.1 percent from 3.3 percent;
d. Recreation, sport and culture at 6.5 percent from 6.9 percent;
e. Restaurants and accommodation services at 2.5 percent from 2.7 percent; and
f. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 5.8 percent from 6.3 percent.

On the other hand, the IR for alcoholic beverages and tobacco, and for information and communication both increased to 2.8 percent, from its previous IRs of 2.4 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively.

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

Food inflation in the province recorded an annual decrease of 1.3 percent inflation in April 2025 from a zero percent inflation in March 2025. In April 2024, food inflation was higher at 7.2 percent.

The deceleration of food inflation rate in April 2025 was mainly influenced by fish and other seafood with slower annual increase of 0.3 percent during the month from 2.9 percent in March 2025. This was followed by meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals with slower annual increase of 10.9 percent during the month from 13.4 percent in the previous month.  Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses also contributed to the trend with 14.9 percent from 18.3 percent.

In addition, lower inflation rates were observed in the following food items:

a. Flour, bread, and other bakery products, pasta products and other cereals at 2.7 percent from 2.9 percent;
b. Milk, other dairy products and eggs at 4.5 percent from 4.7 percent;
c. Fruits and nuts at 4.0 percent from 8.0 percent; and
d. Ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified (n.e.c) at 8.3 percent from 9.5 percent.

Rice, the central commodity of Filipinos, exhibited faster annual decrease in its IR at 15.3 percent in April 2025 from an annual decrease of 15.1 percent in March 2025. The sugar, confectionery and desserts also recorded an annual decline of 0.1 percent from an annual increase of 0.4 percent.

On the other hand, oils and fats recorded a 4.3 percent inflation during the month from 4.0 percent inflation in the previous month.

Meanwhile, only the corn retained its inflation rate from the previous month at an annual decrease of 6.3 percent.

The non-food category in general slowed down to 2.7 percent during the month from 4.1 percent in the previous month. (Table 1)

CONSUMER PRICE INDEX

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in April 2025 was recorded at 122.9 percent. This implies that the average level of prices of consumer food and services purchased by households in April 2025 was higher by 22.9 percent compared with the prices in 2018. (Table 2)

Moreover, the provincial CPI in April 2025 is lower by 2.0 percentage points and 4.4 percentage points than the regional and national CPI levels, respectively. (Table A)

Three (3) of the 13 commodity groups observed decrease in its CPI levels in April 2025. These groups are food and non-alcoholic beverages; housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; and transport.

On the other hand, eight (8) of the 13 commodity groups observed increase in its CPI levels. These groups are alcoholic beverages and tobacco; clothing and footwear; furnishings, household equipment and routine household; health; 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 at 128.9 percent and 126.7 percent, respectively. On the other hand, the information and communication group recorded the least CPI with 107.3 percent. (Table 2)

In general, food index recorded a decrease in its CPI level at 124.9 percent during the month from 126.5 percent in the previous month.

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

a. Rice at 102.5 percent from 105.4 percent;
b. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals at 154.1 percent from
154.8 percent;
c. Fish and other seafood at 131.4 percent from 132.3 percent;
d. Fruits and nuts at 148.4 percent from 150.4 percent;
e. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses at 136.0 percent from 141.8 percent; and
f. Ready-made food and other food products not elsewhere classified (n.e.c) at 135.5 percent from 135.7 percent.

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

a. Flour, bread and other bakery products, pasta products, and other cereals at 120.6 percent from 120.4 percent;
b. Milk, other dairy products and eggs at 125.6 percent from 125.4 percent; and
c. Oils and fats at 127.7 percent from 127.3 percent.

Meanwhile, the rest of the food items retained its CPI levels from the previous month.

The non-food category recorded lower CPI level at 120.5 percent in April 2025 from 120.8 percent in March 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 0.81. This PPP implies that the goods and services worth Php 1.00 in 2018 is now worth Php 0.81 in April 2025 or you will need Php 122.9 to buy the same goods and services worth Php 100.00 in 2018. (Table A and Figure 2)
 

Approved for release:

SGD. RENAVIL V. CUEVA

Chief Statistical Specialist