The headline inflation or the overall inflation in the province of Davao de Oro for the Bottom 30% of Income Households decelerated to -2.6 percent in March 2025 from -2.4 percent in February 2025. This brings the year-to-date average inflation rate to -1.6 percent. Inflation of prices in March 2024 was observed at 3.2 percent. (Table 1 and Figure 1)

 

The downtrend of provincial inflation for the bottom 30% income households was mainly driven by the lower inflation rate in the index of the following commodity groups:

a. Food and non-alcoholic beverages at -5.2 percent from -5.1 percent in February 2025; 
b. Transport at -1.5 percent from -0.8 percent in February 2025; and 
c. Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 2.2 percent from 2.3 percent in February 2025. 

The percentage share of the above-mentioned commodity groups in the overall inflation for the bottom 30% income households in March 2025 are as follows: (a) Food and non-alcoholic beverages at 49.0 percent; (b) Transport at 44.1 percent; and (c) Personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 3.8 percent. (Table 2)

 

In addition, the following commodity groups also posted a slower annual growth in their respective inflation for the month of March 2025: 

a. Furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance at 1.7 percent; and 
b. Recreation, sport and culture at 4.1 percent.

On the other hand, the following commodity groups posted a faster annual increment in the overall inflation for the Bottom 30% Income Households and their corresponding inflation rate for March 2025: 

a. Clothing and footwear at 1.9 percent; and 
b. Health at 6.6 percent.

Meanwhile, the indices of the following commodity groups remained at their respective previous month’s annual rates:   

a. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco at 1.3 percent; 
b. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels at -2.6 percent; 
c. Information and communication at zero percent; 
d. Education services at 1.3 percent; 
e. Restaurants and accommodation services at 18.1 percent; and 
f. Financial services at zero percent.

The Food and non-alcoholic beverages commodity group had the highest contribution for the month’s inflation rate with 123.1 percent share (-3.20 points). As to the share to the month’s inflation rate of the said commodity group, Cereals and cereal products posted the highest percentage share of 134.6 percent (-3.50 points) and had a -13.7 percent inflation rate. This was followed by Fish and other seafood with a 26.1 percent share (-0.68 points) and -6.6 percent inflation rate. Sugar, confectionery and desserts. had the third highest percentage share of 3.8 percent (-0.10 points) with -5.9 percent inflation rate.

 

The second highest contributor is the Housing, water, electricity, gas, and other fuels commodity group with 13.4 percent share (-0.35 points) among all items. As to the share to the month’s inflation rate of the said commodity group, Electricity posted the highest share of 11.9 percent (-0.31 points) with -3.4 percent inflation rate.

 

Transport commodity group ranked third with a 4.6 percent contribution (-0.12 points). As to the share to the month’s inflation rate of the said commodity group, Fuels and lubricants for personal transport equipment posted the highest share of 8.5 percent (-0.22 points) with -8.8 percent inflation rate.

 

The table below summarizes the inflation rates of Davao de Oro Province from January 2021 up to March 2025 since the rebasing of the market basket with 2018 as the base year.