The Davao Occidental headline inflation rate for the bottom 30% income households declined further to negative 1.2 percent in January 2024 from negative 0.7 percent in December 2024. In January 2024, the inflation rate was higher at 5.4 percent. (Table A and Figure 1)

The drivers of the downward trend of the overall inflation for this income group in December 2024 was the slower year-on-year growth of the food and non-alcoholic beverages from negative 3.5 percent in December 2024 to negative 4.6 percent in January 2025.

In contrast, higher annual growth rates were noticed in the following commodity groups;
a. Restaurant and accommodation services, from 24.1 percent to 24.4 percent;
b. Recreation, sport and culture, from 13.2 percent to 13.3 percent;
c. Clothing and footwear, from 4.5 percent to 5.6 percent;
d. Health, from 2.4 percent to 2.7 percent;
e. Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels; from 1.4 percent to 2.5 percent;
f. Alcoholic beverages and tobacco, from 1.4 percent to 1.5 percent; and
g. Transport, from negative 0.7 percent to 0.9 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 declined further to negative 5.3 percent in January 2025 from negative 4.1 percent in the previous month. In January 2024, the inflation rate was higher at 11.0 percent.

The deceleration of food inflation in January 2025 of this income group were contributed by the lower inflation of rice and corn with negative 12.8 percent and negative 30.5 percent from negative 10.2 percent and negative 22.7 percent in December 2024 respectively. Fish and other seafood also declined to 2.4 percent in January 2025 from 5.4 percent in December 2024. As well as ready-made food and other food products n.e.c to 10.9 percent from 11.6 percent in December 2024.

In contrast, compared with their previous month’s inflation rates, higher annual growth rate was observed in the following commodity groups;
a. Oils and fats from 61.5 percent to 81.1 percent;
b. Meat and other parts of slaughtered land animals from 2.7 percent to 7.4 percent;
c. Vegetables, tubers, plantains, cooking bananas and pulses from negative 8.9 percent to negative 6.7 percent; and 
d. Sugar, confectionery and desserts from negative 14.9 percent to negative 11.3 percent. (Table C)

While milk, other dairy products and eggs retained its previous month’s annual rates at 4.9 percent.

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