Ilocos Region

I.    Overall Inflation

The inflation rate of the Ilocos Region for the bottom 30% income household slowed down to 2.0 percent in March 2025 from 2.4 percent in February 2025. It is lower by 2.0 percentage points from the rate of 4.0 percent in March 2024. 
 

1.1    Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of the Overall Inflation

The downward trend of the overall inflation for the bottom 30% income households in March 2025 was primarily contributed by food and non-alcoholic beverages. The index of this commodity group decreased to 1.7 percent from 2.3 percent in the previous month.

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

a.    Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, 1.4 percent from 1.5 percent;
b.    Clothing and footwear, 2.5 percent from 3.0 percent;
c.    Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance, 1.2 percent from 1.9 percent;
d.    Transport, -1.1 percent from -0.1 percent;
e.    Information and communication, -0.2 percent from 0.0 percent;
f.    Recreation, sport and culture, 3.7 percent from 4.2 percent;
g.    Restaurants and accommodation services, 2.5 percent from 2.7 percent; and
h.    Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services, 3.8 percent from 4.5 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 March 2025 overall inflation for the bottom 30% income households:

a.    Food and non-alcoholic beverages, 43.6 percent share or 0.87 percentage point;
b.    Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, 24.3 percent share or 0.49 percentage point; and
c.    Restaurants and accommodation services, 16.4 percent share or 0.33 percentage point.
 

II.    Food Inflation

Food inflation for the bottom 30% income households at the regional level decelerated to 1.6 percent in March 2025 from 2.3 percent in February 2025. In March 2024, its annual increase was observed at 8.9 percent. 
 

2.1    Main Drivers to the Downward Trend of the Food Inflation

The deceleration of food inflation was mainly contributed by Cereals (ND), particularly on Rice, with 8.1 percent annual decline in March 2025 from 27.6 percent annual increase in March 2024. Likewise, the following food groups contributed to the downtrend in food inflation in March 2025:

a.    Corn, 6.0 percent from 8.0 percent;
b.    Flour, Bread and Other Bakery Products, Pasta Products,  and Other Cereals, 1.4 percent from 1.7 percent;
c.    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (ND), 7.7 percent from 8.6 percent; and
d.    Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c. (ND), 6.2 percent from 6.8 percent.

On the other hand, higher indices were observed in the following food groups during the month of March 2025 (Table B):

a.    Fish and other seafood (ND), 9.0 percent from 6.1 percent;
b.    Milk, other dairy products and eggs (ND), 1.8 percent from 1.3 percent;
c.    Oils and fats (ND), 0.0 percent from -2.5 percent;
d.    Fruits and nuts (ND), 17.4 percent from 10.2 percent;
e.    Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses (ND), 12.0 percent from 7.5 percent; and 
f.    Sugar, confectionery and desserts (ND), 0.8 percent from -1.3 percent.

2.2    Main Contributors to the Food Inflation

Food inflation contributed 41.0 percent or 0.82 percentage point to the March 2025 overall inflation. The top three main contributors to the food inflation during the month were the following:

a.    Fish and other seafood (ND), 83.8 percent share or 1.34 percentage points;
b.    Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals (ND), 74.9 percent share or 1.20 percentage points; and
c.    Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses (ND), 52.4 percent share or 0.84 percentage point.

Provinces

Among the provinces, Ilocos Sur posted the highest inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households at 3.0 percent in March 2025. This was followed by Pangasinan and La Union with 2.1 percent and 1.1 percent, respectively. Meanwhile, Ilocos Norte registered 
a -0.5 percent annual growth.

Compared to their respective levels in March 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-2504-0200
Dated 07 April 2025