The Davao Occidental headline inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households remained at negative 4.6 percent in May 2025. In May 2024, the inflation rate was higher at 8.2 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)

The drivers of the downward trend of the overall inflation for this income group in May 2025 was the slower year-on-year growth of the following commodity groups; 
a. Recreation, sport and culture, from 12.8 percent to 10.6 percent;
b. Clothing and footwear, from 4.2 percent to 4.1 percent;
c. Health, from 3.9 percent to 3.8 percent;
d. Transport, from negative 4.6 percent to negative 5.2 percent; and
e. Food and non-alcoholic beverages from negative 7.7 percent to negative 8.3 percent.

In contrast, higher annual growth rates were noticed in the following commodity groups;
a. Furnishing, household equipment and routine household maintenance, from 6.5 percent to 7.2 percent;
b. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, from 3.5 percent to 4.1 percent; and
c. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, from negative 6.2 percent to negative 2.9 percent.

The indices of the rest of the commodity groups retained their respective previous month’s annual rates. (Tables B)

Food inflation for the bottom 30% income households at the provincial level decreased to negative 9.1 percent in May 2025 from negative 8.6 percent in April 2025. In May 2024, the inflation rate was higher at 14.5 percent.

The deceleration of food inflation in May 2025 of this income group were contributed of the following food groups;
a. Ready-made food and other food products n.e.c., from 6.8 percent to 6.6 percent;
b. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals from 8.9 percent to 5.6 percent;
c. Fish and other seafood, from 0.5 percent to negative 0.3 percent;
d. Sugar, confectionery and desserts from negative 1.9 percent to negative 4.7 percent;
e. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses from 2.3 percent to negative 4.9 percent; and 
f. Rice from negative 23.3 percent to negative 23.6 percent.

In contrast, compared with their previous month’s inflation rates, higher annual growth rate was observed in the following food groups;
a. Oils and fats, from 67.8 percent to 93.4 percent;
b. Milk, other dairy products and eggs, from 1.8 percent to 2.2 percent; and
c. Corn from negative 25.7 percent to negative 23.4 percent. (Table C)

Note: CPIs and inflation rates for the bottom 30% income households by region and province are posted at the PSA OpenSTAT portal at https://openstat.psa.gov.ph/PXWeb/pxweb/en/DB/DB__2M__PI__BIH__2018/?tablelist=true . 

Approved for Release:

JESSIE A. MADULIN
Chief Statistical Specialist