The inflation rate (IR) in Biliran Province slowed down to 1.1 percent in April 2025, from 2.3 percent in March 2025. The average IR from January to April 2025 stood at 1.5 percent. Meanwhile, the inflation rate in April 2024 was higher at 4.4 percent. (Figure 1, Table A and Table B)

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 A)

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.

Approved for release:

SGD. RENAVIL V. CUEVA

Chief Statistical Specialist