Ilocos Region

I. Overall Inflation

The inflation rate of the Ilocos Region for the bottom 30% income household increased to 1.9 percent in May 2025 from 1.6 percent in April 2025. It is higher by 2.0 percentage points from the rate of 3.9 percent in May 2024.

1.1 Main Drivers to the Upward Trend of the Overall Inflation

The upward trend of the overall inflation for the bottom 30% income households in May 2025 was primarily contributed by housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels. The index of this commodity group increased to 6.8 percent from 2.2 percent in the previous month.

Higher indices were also observed in the following commodity groups during the month of May 2025:
   a. Clothing and footwear, 3.0 percent from 2.6 percent;
   b. Health, 1.7 percent from 1.4 percent;
   c. Recreation, sport and culture, 3.8 percent from 3.5 percent;
   d. Restaurants and accommodation services, 4.0 percent from 3.1 percent; and
   e. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 4.4 percent from 4.1 percent.

On the other hand, lower indices were observed in Transport with -2.9 percent from -2.6 percent.

The rest of the commodity groups retained their previous month’s inflation rates or had zero percent annual growths. (Table B)

1.2 Main Contributor to the Overall Inflation

The following commodity groups were the top three contributors to the May 2025 overall inflation for the bottom 30% income households:
   a. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 52.2 percent share or 0.99 percentage point;
   b. Restaurants and accommodation services, 27.1 percent share or 0.52 percentage point; and
   c. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services,12.4 percent share or 0.24 percentage point.

II. Food Inflation

Food inflation for the bottom 30% income households at the regional level decelerated to 0.2 percent in May 2025 from 1.2 percent in April 2025. In May 2024, its annual increase was observed at 8.7 percent.

2.1 Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of the Food Inflation

The deceleration of food inflation was mainly contributed by Cereals and cereal products, with -11.0 percent in May 2025 from -6.8 percent in April 2025. Likewise, sugar, confectionery and desserts contributed to the downtrend in food inflation in May 2025 with 0.3 percent from 0.5 percent.

On the other hand, higher indices were observed in the following food groups during the month of May 2025 (Table B):
   a. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 6.3 percent from 6.1 percent;
   b. Fish and other seafood, 12.5 percent from 11.3 percent;
   c. Milk, other dairy products and eggs, 4.0 percent from 3.5 percent;
   d. Oils and fats, 0.5 percent from 0.3 percent;
   e. Fruits and nuts, 21.4 percent from 13.1 percent;
   f. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, 13.2 percent from 7.6 percent; and
   g. Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c., 5.3 percent from 5.0 percent.

2.2 Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 5.5 percent or 0.10 percentage point to the May 2025 overall inflation. The top three main contributors to the food inflation during the month were the following:
   a. Fish and other seafood, 840.5 percent share or 1.68 percentage points;
   b. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals, 470 percent share or 0.94 percentage point; and
   c. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses, 433.1 percent share or 0.87 percentage point.

PROVINCES

Among the provinces, Ilocos Sur posted the highest inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households at 3.9 percent in May 2025.  This was followed by Pangasinan and La Union with 2.0 percent and 1.5 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte registered -1.8 percent annual growth.

Compared to their respective levels in May 2024, Ilocos Sur posted higher inflation rate, while Ilocos Norte, La Union, and Pangasinan recorded lower inflation rates.
 

For the Regional Director:

SGD: CAMILLE CARLA U. BELTRAN
Chief Administrative Officer
(Officer-in-Charge)
Per SO No. RSSO I-2506-0310
Dated 09 June 2025