Ilocos Region

I.    Overall Inflation

The inflation rate of the Ilocos Region for the bottom 30% income household slowed down to 3.0 percent in January 2024 from 3.3 percent in December 2024. It is lower by 0.1 percentage point from the rate of 3.1 percent in January 2024. 
 

1.1    Main Drivers to the Upward Trend of the Overall Inflation

The downward trend of the overall inflation for the bottom 30% income households in January 2025 was primarily contributed by food and non-alcoholic beverages. The index of this commodity group decreased to 3.9 percent from 4.5 percent in the previous month.

Lower indices were also observed in the following commodity groups during the month of January 2025:

a.    Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 1.5 percent from 2.5 percent;
b.    Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 2.3 percent from 3.3 percent;
c.    Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 2.2 percent from 3.2 percent;
d.    Education services, 0.6 percent from 6.5 percent;
e.    Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 4.8 percent from 5.0 percent;
f.    Clothing and footwear, 3.8 percent from 4.3 percent; and
g.    Recreation, sport and culture, 4.7 percent from 5.1 percent.

On the other hand, increased indices compared to their previous month’s rates were observed in the following commodity groups:

a.    Transport, 0.4 percent from -0.6 percent; and
b.    Restaurants and accommodation services, 2.1 percent from 0.8 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 January 2025 overall inflation for the bottom 30% income households:

a.    Food and non-alcoholic beverages, 64.3 percent share or 1.93 percentage points;
b.    Restaurants and accommodation services, 9.9 percent share or 0.30 percentage point; and
c.    Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 9.2 percent share or 0.28 percentage point.
 

II.    Food Inflation

Food inflation for the bottom 30% income households at the regional level decelerated to 4.0 percent in January 2025 from 4.5 percent in December 2024. In January 2024, its annual increase was observed at 6.9 percent. 

2.1    Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of the Food Inflation

The deceleration of food inflation was mainly contributed by Rice with -3.2 percent annual decline in January 2025 from 2.4 percent annual increase in December 2024. Likewise, the following food groups contributed to the downtrend in food inflation in December 2024:

a.    Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c. (ND), 8.1 percent from 8.7 percent;
b.    Oils and fats (ND), -2.0 percent from -1.8 percent;
c.    Corn, 12.3 percent from 12.7 percent; and
d.    Flour, Bread and Other Bakery Products, Pasta Products, and Other Cereals, 2.2 percent from 2.6 percent.

On the other hand, higher indices were observed in the following food groups during the month of January 2025:

a.    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (ND), 4.9 percent from 4.1 percent;
b.    Fish and other seafood (ND), 4.4 percent from 3.4 percent; 
c.    Fruits and nuts (ND), 6.8 percent from 4.4 percent;
d.    Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses (ND), 35.8 percent from 22.2 percent; and
e.    Sugar, confectionery and desserts (ND), -1.5 percent from -3.3 percent.

Milk, other dairy products and eggs (ND) retained its previous month’s inflation rate or had zero percent annual growth. (Table B)

2.2    Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 59.9 percent or 1.80 percentage points to the January 2025 overall inflation. The top three main contributors to the food inflation during the month were the following:

a.    Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses (ND), 74.0 percent share or 2.96 percentage point;
b.    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (ND), 19.9 percent share or 0.79 percentage point;
c.    Fish and other seafood (ND), 16.3 percent share or 0.65 percentage point;
 

Provinces

Among the provinces, Ilocos Sur posted the highest inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households at 6.0 percent in January 2025. This was followed by Ilocos Norte and Pangasinan with 3.4 percent  and 2.6 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, La Union registered a 2.2 percent annual growth.

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

for:
ATTY. SHEILA O. DE GUZMAN
Regional Director, RSSO 01

SGD. TERESA B. OLARTE
(Supervising Statistical Specialist)
Officer-in-charge SOCD
(Officer-in-charge, RSSO 01)
Per SO No. RSSO I-2501-0041
Dated 30 January 2025