MALAYBALAY CITY (BukidnonNews.Net/19 May 2025)— “Mura’g nakaginhawa gamay (It feels like we can breathe a bit),” said Liza, a 22-year-old student from Valencia City, reacting to the slight easing of prices in the province as Bukidnon’s year-on-year inflation rate slowed to 0.4% in March 2025, down from 0.7% in February, according to the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Region X.
Products from Malaybalay City were on display in one of the local government booths during Kaamulan 2025.(BN)The slowdown reflects the continued easing of price increases in major commodity group, particularly in the Food and Non-Alcoholic Beverages sector, which posted a 0.7% inflation rate in March, recovering from a deflationary rate of -0.4% in February.
Despite the easing inflation, prices remain elevated compared to the previous year. A 0.4% inflation rate means that, on average, prices of goods and services in March 2025 were 0.4% higher than in March 2024. It does not mean that prices have dropped, but rather that the pace of increase has slowed. In practical terms, essential items like rice, fuel, or transportation may still cost more than they did a year ago, although the rate of increase is much smaller compared to previous months.
Other commodity groups that contributed to the March inflation include Health, which rose to 5.2% from 4.2% the previous month, and Restaurants and Accommodation Services, which increased to 4.5% from 3.5%.
Meanwhile, Housing, Water, Electricity, Gas, and Other Fuels saw a slight decrease from 2.4% in February to 2.1% in March, providing modest relief for consumers.
The inflation rate for Northern Mindanao in March 2025 stood at 1.1%, indicating that Bukidnon had one of the lowest rates in the region.
The PSA emphasized that while the lower inflation rate suggests reduced price pressures, it does not necessarily translate to significant decreases in the actual cost of basic goods. The agency reminded consumers that price levels remain high due to the cumulative effects of past inflation.
Bukidnon’s March inflation rate is significantly lower than the 5.5% recorded in March 2024, reflecting a broader trend of disinflation in the region. (BukidnonNews.Net)