GUIMARAS – The inflation rate for the bottom 30 percent income households in this province slowed to –1.3 percent in September 2025 from –0.8 percent in August 2025, the Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) reported on Monday, October 13.
PSA data also showed that the average inflation for low-income households (HHs) from January to September this year is at 0.3 percent. In September 2024, inflation for this income group was higher at 6.0 percent.
“The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the bottom 30 percent income households in Guimaras was recorded at 133.5 in September 2025,” Provincial Statistics Officer Nelida B. Losare said. “This means that a typical low-income Guimarasnon household needs ₱1,335.00 in September 2025 to purchase the same basket of goods and services worth ₱1,000.00 in 2018.”
The downtrend in inflation for the bottom 30 percent income group was primarily influenced by the lower annual price movements of housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, which posted –7.5 percent in September 2025 from –3.8 percent in August 2025.
The declining annual inflation rate of food and non-alcoholic beverages at -3.1% in September 2025 from -2.8% in the previous month and personal care, and miscellaneous goods and services at 0.5% from 1.4% also contributed to the gradual inflation of the bottom 30% income HHs.
Moreover, other commodities with falling annual price indices in September against August were observed in alcoholic beverages and tobacco with 9.9% from 10.3%, furnishings, household equipment and routine household maintenance with 0.5% from 0.9%, and recreation, sport and culture with 0.5% from 1.3%,
In contrast, faster inflation rates were noted in clothing and footwear with 1.3 % from 0.7%, health with 4.3% from 3.9%, and transport with 5.4% from 2.9%.
The top three commodity groups that significantly contributed to the overall inflation for low-income households in September were food and non-alcoholic beverages, with 144.6 percent or 1.88 percentage points contribution, and housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels, with 64.5 percent or 0.84 percentage point. Education services also contributed 0.4 percent or 0.01 percentage point.
Meanwhile, among the provinces in Western Visayas, Guimaras registered one of the milder rates of decline in September 2025. It was less negative compared to Antique (–4.4%) and Aklan (–2.1%)./PN
