Headline Inflation

The headline inflation for all income households in the province of Agusan del Sur climbed to 0.9 percent in March 2025 from 0.2 percent in February 2025. Inflation in March 2024 was higher at 3.8 percent.

For comparison, the provincial headline inflation for all income households in March 2025 is slower than the regional and national inflation at 1.3 and 1.8 percent respectively.

Among the 13 commodity groups, ten groups showed increasing inflation in March 2025. This was mainly influenced by Restaurants and Accommodation Services, 4.8 percent from 0.0 percent subsequently, Health, 7.7 percent from 1.3 percent.

In addition, higher annual growth rate was observed in the indices of the following:

a)    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and other fuels, 1.2 percent from 1.1 percent;
b)    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, 5.4 percent from 4.6 percent;
c)    Personal care and miscellaneous goods and services, 2.2 percent from 1.8 percent;
d)    Clothing and Footwear, 1.2 percent from 0.3 percent;
e)    Furnishings, household equipment and routine maintenance, 1.3 percent from 1.1 percent;
f)    Information and Communication, 1.6 percent from 0.0 percent;
g)    Recreation, Sport and Culture, 3.3 percent from 2.1 percent and
h)    Food and non-alcoholic beverages, 0.0 percent from -0.3 percent.

Meanwhile, commodity group on Transport, -1.5 percent from -1.4 percent showed lower annual increment which contributed to the headline inflation during the month.

The rest of the commodity groups that maintained steady rates were reported in the indices of Education Services, 0.3 percent and Financial Services, 0.0 percent.

Food Inflation

Food inflation for all income households at the provincial level escalated to -0.2 percent in March 2025 from -0.5 percent in February 2025. In March 2024, food inflation was higher at 6.9 percent.
The uptrend on inflation for food in March 2025 was essentially caused by the higher year- on-year growth rate on vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, 7.8 percent from -1.9 percent; fish and other seafoods, -3.1 percent from -5.4 percent and meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 6.5 percent from 3.8 percent.

Furthermore, inflation on milk, other dairy products and eggs, 4.5 percent from 2.6 percent; fruits and nuts, 7.7 percent from 5.2 percent; sugar, confectionery and desserts, 1.4 percent from -1.6 percent and ready-made food and other food products, 5.1 percent from
4.4    percent increase in March 2025 as compared with the previous month.

On the contrary, food groups which recorded decrease in inflation rate during the month were the following:

a)    Cereals and cereal products, -6.5 percent from -1.8 percent and
b)    Oils and fats, 22.5 percent from 23.6 percent.

(Sgd.) DEMETRIO T. DEJOLDE JR.
Chief Statistical Specialist