Bicol inflation rate decelerates to 2.7% in Feb

By Connie Calipay

LEGAZPI CITY --- The Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 5 (Bicol) reported on Friday that inflation in the region slowed down to 2.7 percent in February from 3.2 percent in January.

During a press conference, PSA-5 Director Cynthia Perdiz said the figure is also lower than the 2.9 percent inflation rate in the same month last year.

“The primary reason for the lower inflation rate in February 2025 is the slower increase in the prices of food and non-alcoholic beverages, which dropped to 2.7 percent from 3.7 percent in January 2025. The second reason for the lower inflation is the slower price movement in transport at 0.0 percent from 2.1 percent in January 2025,” Perdiz said.

The main contributor to the decline in food and non-alcoholic beverage inflation is the slower increase in the prices of vegetables, tubers, and others, now at 13.9 percent from 30.4 percent in January 2025.

Cereal products, such as rice, decreased in price by -4.6 percent from -3.5 percent, and fish and other seafood decreased by 2.7 percent from 3.7 percent.

Meanwhile, the main contributor to the decline in transport inflation is the slower increase in the price of other passenger transport by road, which had an inflation rate of 0.7 percent from 3.9 percent in January; and the decrease in gasoline prices, with inflation at -5.8 percent compared to -3.9 percent in January.

Perdiz added that out of the 13 commodity groups, five recorded a slower increase in inflation last month.

These are non-alcoholic beverages; clothing and footwear; transport; recreation, sports, and culture; and personal care and miscellaneous goods and services. (With a report from Lily Nocomora, OJT/PNA)

EASING INFLATION. Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) 5 (Bicol) Director Cynthia Perdiz (center) reports a lower inflation rate in the region for February, during a press conference at the PSA regional office in Rawis, Legazpi City on Friday (March 7, 2025). Inflation in the region slowed down to 2.7 percent last month from 3.2 percent in January. (Photo by Lily Nocomora, OJT/PNA)