Caraga

1.    Headline Inflation

Headline Inflation in Caraga rises to 1.3 Percent in March 2025

The headline inflation rate for all income households in the Caraga region accelerated to 1.3 percent in March 2025. This marks a 0.2 percentage point increase from the 1.1 percent recorded in February 2025. Despite the month-on-month uptick, the March 2025 figure remains significantly lower compared to the 3.0 percent inflation rate observed in the same month of the previous year. (Refer to Table A, Table B, and Figure 1 for more details.)

Among the 13 commodity groups, the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages emerged as the primary contributor to the overall acceleration in inflation for March 2025. The average price change in this category rose to 0.6 percent, a notable increase from -0.2 percent in February 2025. This group accounted for a significant 75.0 percent share in the overall inflation movement, underscoring its substantial impact on the region’s inflation trend. 

The main contributors to the rise in inflation for the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages group were the increased prices of fish and other seafood which recorded and inflation rate of 5.2 percent this month from -2.7 percent in the previous month, and, vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas, and pulses which posted a 4.8 percent inflation rate in March 2025 from -0.1 percent inflation in February 2025.

Other commodity groups that showed an increase in inflation include:

A.    Clothing and Footwear: 2.3 percent from 2.0 percent in the previous month;
B.    Health: 2.9 percent from 1.4 percent;
C.    Information and communication: 0.9 percent, up from 0.8 percent; 
D.    Recreation, Sport and Culture: 4.2 percent from 3.9 percent;
E.    Restaurants and Accommodation Services: 2.1 percent from 0.8 percent. 

On the other hand, lower annual growth rates were observed in the indices of the following commodity groups during the month:

A.    Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, 5.9 percent from 6.1 percent;
B.    Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas and Other Fuels, 2.1 percent from 4.2 percent; 
C.    Furnishings, Household Equipment and Routine Household Maintenance, 1.4 percent from 1.7 percent;
D.    Transport, -1.0 percent from -0.6 percent; and
E.    Personal Care, and Miscellaneous Goods and Services, 2.6 percent from 2.9 percent.

Meanwhile, commodity groups that exhibited consistent rates were noted in the following:

A.    Education Services, at 1.9 percent; and
B.    Financial Services, at 0.0 percent.

2.    Food Inflation

Regional Food Prices Rise: Food Inflation Increases to 0.5 Percent in March 2025

Food inflation for all income households in the Caraga region rose to 0.5 percent in March 2025, up from -0.5 percent in February 2025. Despite this month-on-month increase, the current rate is significantly lower compared to the 6.5 percent inflation recorded in March 2024.

The inclined in food inflation in Caraga for March 2025 was primarily driven by significant increase in the inflation rates of key food categories:

A.    Fish and other seafood: The year-on-year growth rate in this category surged to 5.2 percent in March 2025, a sharp rebound from -2.7 percent recorded in the previous month. The increase was mainly driven by higher prices of specific fish varieties, particularly tuna and sardines, which pushed up the inflation on this food category.

B.    Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses: Inflation in this food group climbed to 4.8 percent in March 2025, up from -0.1 percent in February 2025. The significant increase was mainly attributed to the rise in price indices of certain vegetables, particularly onions, which played a key role in driving up inflation in this category.

Other food groups with increased inflation are the following:

A.    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 7.4 percent from 6.4 percent;
B.    Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 5.2 percent from 4.6 percent; and
C.    Sugar, confectionery and desserts, 2.5 percent from -0.4 percent.

On the contrary, decreased inflation was recorded during the month in the indices of the following food groups:

A.    Rice, -10.9 percent from -6.4 percent;
B.    Corn, -9.0 percent from -6.5 percent;
C.    Oils and fats, 8.8 percent from 9.3 percent; and
D.    Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c., 4.0 percent from 4.5 percent.

Moreover, the following two food groups maintained the same inflation rate as recorded in February 2025 rate:

A.    Flour, Bread and Other Bakery Products, Pasta Products, and Other Cereals, at 2.2 percent; and
B.    Fruits and nuts, at 6.1 percent.

B.     Provinces and Highly Urbanized City (HUC)

In March 2025, inflation trends across the Caraga region exhibited variation among its five provinces and one Highly Urbanized City (HUC). Most provinces recorded a decline in inflation including Surigao del Norte, Surigao del Sur and Dinagat Islands. 

In contrast, Butuan City (HUC) with an increased inflation also registered the highest inflation rate in the region at 1.9 percent. Agusan del Sur also saw an increased in inflation, rising to 0.9 percent from 0.2 percent in the previous month. Meanwhile, Agusan del Norte maintained a steady inflation rate of 1.1 percent, unchanged from the previous month. (Refer to Table A.)

Note:
CPIs and inflation rates by province and selected city are posted on the PSA website (http://openstat.psa.gov.ph/).

(Sgd.) GUILLERMO M. LIPIO, JR.
(Chief Statistical Specialist)
Officer-In-Charge
PSA RSSO XIII